Attention Members: We Need Volunteers!
Introducing Financial Reality Fairs

Through a partnership with New Jersey high schools and the New Jersey Credit Union League, ABCO Federal Credit Union is providing a fun, hands-on program for high school students this spring. The program is called “Financial Reality Fairs." 

The purpose of the program is to begin to teach the students how to manage personal finances. They pretend they have just graduated, and have nothing – no car, no residence, no cell phone, etc. They are provided with a budget worksheet, which includes a starting salary of a position in the field of their choice. They go through “life”, stopping by booths to purchase cars, rent homes, finance furniture, etc. Their goal is to stay within budget; in other words, still have money left in their pockets after paying all their bills for the month. After they complete their purchases, they meet with a financial counselor to discuss the positive or negative effects their choices made in keeping within their budget goals.

ABCO is offering this program to the two campuses of the Burlington County Special Services school in March. The dates and times are as follows:

• March 21, 2012, 9:00am to 11:30am (Westampton Campus)
• March 26, 2012, 9:00am to 11:30am (Lumberton Campus)

In order to make this program work effectively, we need volunteers to help each day. This volunteer work would be ideal for retired teachers and credit union employees. For more information or to sign up, please contact Tanya Pope at 1.800.225.1859 ext. 3508 or popet@goabco.org. We appreciate your help on this most worthwhile project.

This project has received national recognition through a financial education grant fro the National Credit Union Foundation.