CHANGING KIDS’ LIVES THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Welcome to the 2023 first quarter RMJ Foundation Newsletter
April is Financial Capability Month! Most Americans are either breaking even or spending more than they earn, which means they are unable to save money steadily. It’s been estimated that 50% of Americans don’t have a “rainy day” fund to cover expenses in case of emergencies. April is a great time to go out to our communities and highlight the importance of financial education . The Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation’s signature program, Bite of Reality®, is a great way to introduce budgeting and savings to teens!
RMJ FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
The RMJ Foundation would like to welcome our two new associate board members.
The RMJ Foundation would like to welcome our two new associate board members.
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Robert Einstein Hector Martin
President/CEO, UMe CU President/CEO, Countu Schools FCU
We are also pleased to announce our new board officers: Board Chair Heri Garcia, CEO Thinkwise CU; Vice Chair Ray Mesler, CEO, Downey FCU; and Secretary/Treasurer Veronica Dangerfield, Senior Financial Health Educator, Patelco CU.
President/CEO, UMe CU President/CEO, Countu Schools FCU
We are also pleased to announce our new board officers: Board Chair Heri Garcia, CEO Thinkwise CU; Vice Chair Ray Mesler, CEO, Downey FCU; and Secretary/Treasurer Veronica Dangerfield, Senior Financial Health Educator, Patelco CU.
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Bite of Reality
The past three months have been a busy time for our Bite of Reality® program. Credit unions helped us deliver 133 events nationwide, reaching more than 17,000 students so far in 2023. The RMJ Foundation would like to welcome Valley Strong CU and Logix FCU to the Bite of Reality family, who both recently hosted their first in-person events!
In March we updated the Bite of Reality2 app with the Pay Yourself First feature. Students now have the opportunity to set aside funds into their savings account before they begin to visit the merchant stations and make purchases for their monthly needs such as transportation, childcare, and housing. Saving is an important aspect of budgeting, and we are pleased to have this addition to the app.
For more information or to book your first event, contact Jenn Lucas at info@rmjfoundation.org
Bite of Reality
The past three months have been a busy time for our Bite of Reality® program. Credit unions helped us deliver 133 events nationwide, reaching more than 17,000 students so far in 2023. The RMJ Foundation would like to welcome Valley Strong CU and Logix FCU to the Bite of Reality family, who both recently hosted their first in-person events!
In March we updated the Bite of Reality2 app with the Pay Yourself First feature. Students now have the opportunity to set aside funds into their savings account before they begin to visit the merchant stations and make purchases for their monthly needs such as transportation, childcare, and housing. Saving is an important aspect of budgeting, and we are pleased to have this addition to the app.
For more information or to book your first event, contact Jenn Lucas at info@rmjfoundation.org
Financial Counselor Academy
The RMJ Foundation is collaborating with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues on our newest program, the Financial Counselor Academy. The program is an enhanced version of the CUNA FiCEP program and includes live sessions that focus on the empathy
aspect of financial coaching. The program provides credit union employees with the skills and knowledge required to guide their members to sound financial decisions. Our first cohort of 65 students began their journey on January 25 and will earn their designations as Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) after taking the FiCEP online exam in late April. The group will then attend an in-person daylong capstone session where they will bring together all their learning and walk away with the tools to create a financial counseling program in their credit unions.
If you are interested in earning your CCUFC certification and would like to join our second cohort, registration will open in May. For more information about the program, contact Tena Lozano at info@rmjfoundation.org.
Life Simulation
Later this year we will launch a Life Simulation program. This experience is designed to help credit union employees begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month-to-month. This program is unique and special because it combines the financial and emotional distress that low-income families face and truly puts all levels of the credit union staff in the shoes of their members. For more information about bringing this program to your credit union employees, contact Jenn Lucas at info@rmjfoundation.org.
Financial Counselor Academy
The RMJ Foundation is collaborating with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues on our newest program, the Financial Counselor Academy. The program is an enhanced version of the CUNA FiCEP program and includes live sessions that focus on the empathy
aspect of financial coaching. The program provides credit union employees with the skills and knowledge required to guide their members to sound financial decisions. Our first cohort of 65 students began their journey on January 25 and will earn their designations as Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) after taking the FiCEP online exam in late April. The group will then attend an in-person daylong capstone session where they will bring together all their learning and walk away with the tools to create a financial counseling program in their credit unions.
If you are interested in earning your CCUFC certification and would like to join our second cohort, registration will open in May. For more information about the program, contact Tena Lozano at info@rmjfoundation.org.
Life Simulation
Later this year we will launch a Life Simulation program. This experience is designed to help credit union employees begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month-to-month. This program is unique and special because it combines the financial and emotional distress that low-income families face and truly puts all levels of the credit union staff in the shoes of their members. For more information about bringing this program to your credit union employees, contact Jenn Lucas at info@rmjfoundation.org.
FUNDRAISING
Credit Union Train
This year’s Credit Union Train Fundraiser at the L.A. County Fair runs from May 5 – 29 in Pomona, CA. Sponsoring credit unions will have their logo displayed on a train car within the Fairplex Garden Railroad—the largest public miniature railroad in America. Train cars run for the duration of the fair, when visiting the fair don’t forget to check out the Garden Railroad.
Credit Union Train
This year’s Credit Union Train Fundraiser at the L.A. County Fair runs from May 5 – 29 in Pomona, CA. Sponsoring credit unions will have their logo displayed on a train car within the Fairplex Garden Railroad—the largest public miniature railroad in America. Train cars run for the duration of the fair, when visiting the fair don’t forget to check out the Garden Railroad.
RMJ / Origence Golf Tournament
The RMJ Origence Annual Golf Tournament will be held on August 7, 2023, and will return to the beautiful Monarch Beach Golf Links and Resort in Dana Point, CA.
Registration is now open, and packages are selling fast. Visit golfgenius.com to complete your registration today.
RMJ / Origence Golf Tournament
The RMJ Origence Annual Golf Tournament will be held on August 7, 2023, and will return to the beautiful Monarch Beach Golf Links and Resort in Dana Point, CA.
Registration is now open, and packages are selling fast. Visit golfgenius.com to complete your registration today.
Dream Vacation
The 2023 RMJ Dream Vacation Drawing is back! Enter to win a $3,500 vacation package. Vacation package includes a trip for two to your choice of destination, including travel and hotel accommodations, to be taken any time in 2024. Winner will be announced during California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ annual REACH conference from October 22-26 in Las Vegas, NV. Tickets are available through your local credit union Network or at the REACH conference.
The 2023 RMJ Dream Vacation Drawing is back! Enter to win a $3,500 vacation package. Vacation package includes a trip for two to your choice of destination, including travel and hotel accommodations, to be taken any time in 2024. Winner will be announced during California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ annual REACH conference from October 22-26 in Las Vegas, NV. Tickets are available through your local credit union Network or at the REACH conference.
OUT AND ABOUT
Wine Auction
Tena Lozano, RMJ Foundation Executive Director, was invited by PSCU to attend the 2023 Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction in March. It was a great opportunity to support another worthy cause and share in credit unions’ generosity and goodwill.
DECA Conference
Earlier this year, Tena Lozano attended the California DECA conference and participated as a judge. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. As a judge, Tena observed students providing impromptu presentations on financial services and financial literacy, after having had 10 minutes to review a prompt and then perform a roleplay exercise. This was the state finals, and the high caliber of the students was impressive.
Wine Auction
Tena Lozano, RMJ Foundation Executive Director, was invited by PSCU to attend the 2023 Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction in March. It was a great opportunity to support another worthy cause and share in credit unions’ generosity and goodwill.
DECA Conference
Earlier this year, Tena Lozano attended the California DECA conference and participated as a judge. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. As a judge, Tena observed students providing impromptu presentations on financial services and financial literacy, after having had 10 minutes to review a prompt and then perform a roleplay exercise. This was the state finals, and the high caliber of the students was impressive.