Raiz Federal Credit Union, El Paso nonprofits, and local family living paycheck-to-paycheck featured in season 2 of reality TV series, Opportunity Knocks, broadcast nationally on PBS, and KCOS
Viewers are connected to real solutions to ‘unrig the system’; Check local listings.
EL PASO, TX (June 4, 2024) — Are you one of the millions of Americans silently struggling as groceries, gas, and housing costs skyrocket? According to a 2023 survey by Payroll.com, over three-quarters of people in the U.S. share this burden, and it’s no wonder that as the cost of everyday items, like gas and groceries, continues to skyrocket.
Raiz Federal Credit Union was selected by the producers of Opportunity Knocks, the award-winning personal finance reality TV series that recently premiered Season 2 on PBS.org, PBS Passport, and KCOS HD at 12:30 pm on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Opportunity Knocks creates an interactive experience in which viewers can use the show’s grant-funded tools, The Opportunity Finder and The Opportunity Coach, to empower themselves to take the same actionable steps El Paso local Nicole Landini took on her journey from financial stress to financial stability.
Max Villaronga, CEO and President of Raiz Federal Credit Union affirms, “As an organization that values uplifting our community through financial empowerment, we’re proud to be a part of Opportunity Knocks once again for Season 2. Audiences will witness how lives can be transformed when given the guidance, tools, and knowledge from a financial institution that cares.”
Raiz was selected to participate in the series because of its dedication to financial empowerment and efforts to serve communities that historically have been abandoned by mainstream financial institutions. Additionally, Raiz, the not-for-profit credit union, is Community Development Financial Institution-certified, which means it provides loans and accounts to people denied by other financial institutions. In the series, it provides a consolidation loan to Landini, which proves to be a pivotal point in turning her financial despair into a strategy to keep more of her own money.
Jamie Strayer, creator of The Opportunity Initiative and Opportunity Knocks and executive producer, wants viewers to know, “Everyone deserves financial opportunities. Opportunity Knocks levels the playing field and breaks down barriers for families to get ahead. Raiz’s work with Landini shows the miracle that happens when people receive fair access to affordable credit.”
Brian Spoor, showrunner, director, and executive producer, shared, “This is a show that gives meaning to my life’s work.” Spoor is a Prime Time Emmy-nominated director/producer of Wahlburgers and 70 other reality TV hits, including Undercover Billionaire.
Opportunity Knocks is distributed to PBS stations nationally by American Public Television (APT) and presenting station WXXI Public Media. The show is funded by the nonprofit National Council for Financial Opportunities, The Wells Fargo Foundation, Balance and Callahan and Associates. Spoor, Strayer and Jenn George Hunter executive produce the series. In its first season, Opportunity Knocks won the Silver Anthem Award, honoring mission-driven media worldwide; a prestigious Silver Telly Award for Best Reality Television Program; and The Opportunity Finder received a Gold dotComm Award.
Check local listings for your local station’s viewing times. It will also be streamed on PBS.org, the PBS Passport app, and opportunityknocks.net.
Available for Interview:
- Max Villaronga, CEO of Raiz Federal Credit Union, can discuss the experience of the local not-for-profit being featured in a national television series.
- Jean Chatzky is CEO of HerMoney.com, former financial editor of NBC Today for 25 years, financial ambassador for AARP, and a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. She serves as one of the financial coaches for the show.
- Jamie Strayer and Brian Spoor are the creator/executive producer and director/showrunner, respectively, of Opportunity Knock$. Jamie’s work securing nearly $1 billion in grants inspired the series. Brian is the prime-time Emmy-nominated director with a track record of directing and producing 70 reality TV hits including Undercover Billionaire and Wahlburgers.
About Raiz Federal Credit Union
At Raiz (pronounced as "rise" in English and "rah-EES" in Spanish), our members and strong, vibrant community inspire us daily. We share a passion for knowledge and the pursuit of growth, grounded in our heritage as El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU). Today, we guide members from many professions to focus on their goals and help them get here. We're proud of our roots in El Paso (since 1936) as we envision a bold path forward, leading the way with passion. We are over 70,000 members strong and provide a full range of high-quality financial services at the great rates and low costs you can expect from a first-class credit union. Join us and experience the difference that comes from working with people who care.
The meaning behind our name: Spanish for root and pronounced as Raiz, our new identity grows from our community heritage. Grounded in the roots of our beginning with teachers, we share a passion for knowledge and the pursuit of growth. We inspire our members and employees to feel connected to our future potential together. We are rising and inviting people to move forward with us. As we look out to the light over the Franklin Mountains rising from El Paso, we look up and ahead to an even brighter tomorrow.
