DOWNEY - Third grade students at Ward Elementary School learned about saving, spending and sharing at classes given by Downey Federal Credit Union.Kari Johnson, the credit union's community education and development representative, developed a series of workshops for the third-graders. By using photos of animals available for adoption at SEAACA, Johnson helped the children realize they could allocate part of their budget to donate toys and blankets to homeless animals. The students also chose to donate toys to children at Children's Hospital Los Angeles "to help them feel like someone else cared about them." "As a result of the class workshops, the students received practical solutions to everyday problems their parents might face," credit union officials said. "In addition, they learned the value of budgeting their own money for saving, spending and sharing, which are skills that will empower them later on in life." "Downey Federal Credit Union brings a spirit of sharing within the community to the students who may not have been exposed to this type of training," said Jennifer Robbins, principal of Ward Elementary. "We appreciate their partnership with the school and the opportunity for students to learn about financial literacy in a constructive environment."

********** Published: February 03, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 42