LIHUE, Kauai–Gather Federal Credit Union said it has partnered with EverFi to provide free financial education curriculum at no cost to all schools, public and private, in the Hawaiian islands.
“We are excited to be able to offer this online version, to all students K-12,” said Justin Ganaden EVP of Gather FCU. “When we found out that Field Trips & Class Visits were cancelled for the 2020-2021 school year, we started looking for another way to continue the work that we do with our youth & Financial Education.”
“Our children are our future, our best asset and our greatest investment. When we invest in our Kaua’i children, we are planting seeds for a brighter financial future for all of us,” added Stephenie Brown, Gather FCU’s Business Development Manager. “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we wanted offer our Educators & Parents a supplemental curriculum for students. This Everfi K-12 Program was exactly what we were looking for. It aligns with state and national JumpStart standards.”
The interactive program teaches students how to financially plan for the future and make sound financial decisions. Students are engaged through modules, performance-based games, goal setting activities & supplemental lesson plans, the credit union said.
The elementary school program incorporates needs vs wants, savings plans, setting financial goals, credit vs cash, investing & borrowing. The middle school program teaches basic entrepreneurial and business skills like developing business plan, building a budget, marketing a new business and more. The high school program focuses on financial wellbeing while teaching banking basics, employment, income, taxes, budgeting, debt and credit management and risk management.
“EverFi is the perfect complement to youth financial literacy programs that Gather FCU has been incorporating in Kauai schools for the last four years. Programs like, the UH Manoa’s Kid’s Savings Project, Bank Bus & The Reality Fair, said Terri Kaniho, Gather FCU’s Marketing Manager.