MADAWASKA, Maine — Learning to save for what you want in life is a crucial life skill, but it’s one too few young people are learning.
That’s why for financial literacy month in April, NorState Federal Credit Union will host a savings challenge for the entire month, encouraging young people to save for something they care about and offering prizes for participating.
The theme of the event is Give a Hoot about Savings.
“Owls represent wisdom, and nothing is wiser than learning to save for one’s future goals,” said Susan Whitehead, NorState CEO.
In addition to the savings challenge, NorState will offer youth the opportunity to open a savings account or make deposits in an existing account throughout the month, and a chance at a $25 Visa gift card drawing as well as a token of appreciation just for opening a new youth savers account.
NorState will also offer financial literacy presentations in second-grade school classrooms throughout central and northern Aroostook County in April, touching on financial education and some fun events, as well as presenting each classroom saver with a token of appreciation for contributing to a classroom savings challenge to raise funds for Special Olympics.
“Following a tour of the credit union during International Credit Union Day back in October, we invited all second-grade classrooms to visit and learn about credit unions. During the tour we talked about the importance and differences between saving for the future, about spending, and about giving back,” added Denise Duperre, NorState FCU executive marketing director.
“Member education and concern for the community are part of the foundational principles of our business structure,” Duperré added. “Passing along a crucial life skill to the next generation to prepare them for a bright future embodies both those principles.”
In addition to its main office in Madawaska, the credit union has branches in Ashland, Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Van Buren. For more information, go to www.norstatefcu.org/accounts/youth.htm.
