LIHU‘E — “Financial literacy taught at a young age can build a young adult’s confidence when it’s time for them to live on their own,” said Gather Federal Credit Union Business Development Manager Stephenie Brown.
So the largest credit union on Kaua‘i — and one of the largest in the state — is joining forces with an online technology company to offer free financial literacy to all of the public, private and charter schools on Kaua‘i.
Gather FCU has collaborated with EVERFI, a state-of-the art education technology firm that aims to capture the minds of students and engage them to explore the world of finances through different age-appropriate modules while encouraging them to save money.
“We are excited to be able to offer this online version to all students K to 12,” said Justin Ganaden, Gather FCU executive vice president.
According to EVERFI, it is an international technology company driving social change through education to address the most challenging issues affecting society, ranging from financial wellness to prescription-drug safety to workplace conduct and other critical topics.
EVERFI was founded in 2008 and is fueled by its Software-as-a-Service community-engagement platform, and has reached more than 41 million learners globally.
“Our children are our future, our best asset and our greatest investment,” said Brown. “When we invest in our Kaua‘i children, we are planting seeds for a brighter financial future for all of us. In response to the pandemic, we wanted (to) offer our educators and parents a supplemental curriculum for students.”
Brown said this program aligns with state and national JumpStart standards and the elementary-school program incorporates needs versus wants, savings plans, setting financial goals, credit versus cash and investing and borrowing.
The middle-school program teaches basic entrepreneurial and business skills like developing business plans, building a budget, marketing new business and more.
High schoolers focus on financial well-being while learning banking basics, employment, income, taxes, budgeting, debt, and credit management with risk management.
“EVERFI is the perfect complement to youth financial literacy programs that Gather FCU has been incorporating in Kaua‘i schools for the last four years,” said Terri Kaniho, Gather FCU’s marketing manager, “programs like the UH Manoa’s Kid’s Savings Project, Bank Bus and The Reality Fair. As a parent, I have experienced how my child’s life has been positively affected with good money-management skills at such an early age, (so) financial education makes all the difference.”
This collaboration between Gather FCU and EVERFI, is a three-year contract, and schools, teachers and parents can register now.
For more information, call Brown at 246-1262 or register at platform.everfi.net.
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Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
