Changing Kids’ Lives Through Financial Education
Fourth Quarter 2019
Welcome to the RMJ Foundation Newsletter
We are pleased to present our quarterly newsletter, to keep you updated on the various activities and programs here at the RMJ Foundation. Enjoy!
2019 has been a year of growth and collaboration here at the RMJ Foundation. The passion and drive that the RMJ board and staff have to ensure that all high school students receive some financial education before graduating is only enhanced by all the great work our credit unions do in their communities.
With our 2019 contributors and the Bite of Reality team, we were able to meet our fundraising goal, update / improve our Bite of Reality App, and support credit unions in spreading the word about their efforts to improve financial health in their communities.
Welcome to the RMJ Foundation Newsletter
We are pleased to present our quarterly newsletter, to keep you updated on the various activities and programs here at the RMJ Foundation. Enjoy!
2019 has been a year of growth and collaboration here at the RMJ Foundation. The passion and drive that the RMJ board and staff have to ensure that all high school students receive some financial education before graduating is only enhanced by all the great work our credit unions do in their communities.
With our 2019 contributors and the Bite of Reality team, we were able to meet our fundraising goal, update / improve our Bite of Reality App, and support credit unions in spreading the word about their efforts to improve financial health in their communities.
Bite of Reality
Bite of Reality2 App
On January 2, we launched a new version of the Bite of Reality2 App. We’re proud to announce that a pre- and post-test have been added to the App. This is a set of five questions that the students will answer before and after the Bite of Reality. The questions are designed to calculate the students’ financial knowledge before and after they complete the simulation. This will help RMJ to gauge the impact that the Bite of Reality program has on students. We’re thankful for support from the National Credit Union Foundation, which provided a grant to cover a portion of this work.
The new version also includes background updates and changes to the hidden button that initiates an item return.
BOR Events
Bite of Reality2 App
On January 2, we launched a new version of the Bite of Reality2 App. We’re proud to announce that a pre- and post-test have been added to the App. This is a set of five questions that the students will answer before and after the Bite of Reality. The questions are designed to calculate the students’ financial knowledge before and after they complete the simulation. This will help RMJ to gauge the impact that the Bite of Reality program has on students. We’re thankful for support from the National Credit Union Foundation, which provided a grant to cover a portion of this work.
The new version also includes background updates and changes to the hidden button that initiates an item return.
BOR Events
In 2019 in California and Nevada we had 37 credit unions deliverer 250 Bite of Reality events reaching more than 29,000 students! Thank you to our participating credit unions, American First CU, Bay FCU, CalCoast CU, Chaffey FCU, CoastHills FCU, Cooperative Center FCU, Delta Schools FCU, Desert Valleys CU, Downey FCU, Eagle Community CU, Financial Horizon CU, Foothill FCU, Greater Nevada CU, Kinecta FCU, Members 1st FCU, North Island a division of California CU, Orange County’s CU, Pacific Postal CU, Pasadena Services FCU, Patelco CU, Redwood CU, Southern Nevada Chapter, Safe CU, San Mateo CU, Schools Financial FCU, SchoolsFirst FCU, Self-Help FCU, The Police FCU, Sierra Central CU, Siskiyou Central CU, Credit Union of Southern California, Thinkwise CU, Travis CU, UMe CU, Vocality CU, and Wescom FCU!
UNCLE FCU, SESLOC CU, North Island a division of California Credit Union, Nikkei CU, and Lassen CU recently joined the Bite of Reality team and are working on putting together their first events in 2020.
Nationwide, with our 13 customized versions of the BOR App, credit unions reached more than 55,000 students.
And 2020 is shaping up to be another record-breaking year, with 37 Bite of Reality events already on the calendar. Thank you to our Bite of Reality credit unions – and our fabulous Facilitators – for all your hard work! We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with all of you in 2020.
UNCLE FCU, SESLOC CU, North Island a division of California Credit Union, Nikkei CU, and Lassen CU recently joined the Bite of Reality team and are working on putting together their first events in 2020.
Nationwide, with our 13 customized versions of the BOR App, credit unions reached more than 55,000 students.
And 2020 is shaping up to be another record-breaking year, with 37 Bite of Reality events already on the calendar. Thank you to our Bite of Reality credit unions – and our fabulous Facilitators – for all your hard work! We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with all of you in 2020.
RMJ Out and About
FBLA Conferences
RMJ attended the two Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Conferences in Northern and Southern California. We were fortunate to be able to offer Bite of Reality as a breakout session during the conferences. With the two conferences, we were able to reach more than 400 FBLA students. The session attracted the attention of FBLA advisors and high school staff, bringing the opportunity to offer Bite of Reality to seven new schools in Northern and Southern California.
Chapter Forum
It’s always a pleasure to spend time at the Chapter Forum, which takes place in conjunction with the REACH Conference. Chapters do so much work to raise funds for the RMJ Foundation – and to help spread the word about Bite of Reality.
REACH Conference
Bite of Reality: Some students from Monterey High School got a break from their normal day, and were able to walk over to the Portola Hotel and join us for a Bite of Reality at REACH. The event was facilitated by Heri Garcia from Thinkwise CU, and we had volunteers from credit unions and supporting vendors come out to volunteer as merchants.
The Foundation was so excited to have NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood join us and observe a Bite in action. It was great to see the interest the program has generated, and we are proud to show off our signature program at the REACH Conference each year.
Silent Auction: This year at REACH the RMJ Silent Auction was a hit. We had 25 exhibitors join us and donated items ranging from $50 to $1,500. Thank you to all who participated in the auction, we love how creative you get with your donations that helped us raise more than $6,000.
The REACH conference also brought the Foundation the opportunity to reach out to credit unions and vendors we currently do not collaborate with and increase the visibility of our Bite of Reality program.
2019 RMJ Appreciation Gala
The RMJ Appreciation Gala presented by ASI turned out to be a beautiful night!
The Barns at Cooper Molera in Monterey was the perfect location for us to celebrate with 150 of our supporters.
Thank you, again, to all of our 2019 supporters!
OC Chapter Bowling Event
In December, RMJ’s staff attended the Orange County Chapter’s Holiday Bowling Fundraiser benefiting the Foundation. We had a great time bowling, meeting new people and checking out all the Ugly Christmas Sweaters!
FBLA Conferences
RMJ attended the two Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Conferences in Northern and Southern California. We were fortunate to be able to offer Bite of Reality as a breakout session during the conferences. With the two conferences, we were able to reach more than 400 FBLA students. The session attracted the attention of FBLA advisors and high school staff, bringing the opportunity to offer Bite of Reality to seven new schools in Northern and Southern California.
Chapter Forum
It’s always a pleasure to spend time at the Chapter Forum, which takes place in conjunction with the REACH Conference. Chapters do so much work to raise funds for the RMJ Foundation – and to help spread the word about Bite of Reality.
REACH Conference
Bite of Reality: Some students from Monterey High School got a break from their normal day, and were able to walk over to the Portola Hotel and join us for a Bite of Reality at REACH. The event was facilitated by Heri Garcia from Thinkwise CU, and we had volunteers from credit unions and supporting vendors come out to volunteer as merchants.
The Foundation was so excited to have NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood join us and observe a Bite in action. It was great to see the interest the program has generated, and we are proud to show off our signature program at the REACH Conference each year.
Silent Auction: This year at REACH the RMJ Silent Auction was a hit. We had 25 exhibitors join us and donated items ranging from $50 to $1,500. Thank you to all who participated in the auction, we love how creative you get with your donations that helped us raise more than $6,000.
The REACH conference also brought the Foundation the opportunity to reach out to credit unions and vendors we currently do not collaborate with and increase the visibility of our Bite of Reality program.
2019 RMJ Appreciation Gala
The RMJ Appreciation Gala presented by ASI turned out to be a beautiful night!
The Barns at Cooper Molera in Monterey was the perfect location for us to celebrate with 150 of our supporters.
Thank you, again, to all of our 2019 supporters!
OC Chapter Bowling Event
In December, RMJ’s staff attended the Orange County Chapter’s Holiday Bowling Fundraiser benefiting the Foundation. We had a great time bowling, meeting new people and checking out all the Ugly Christmas Sweaters!