Real Solutions - A National Credit Union Foundation Program

Biz Kid$, the Emmy Award-winning financial literacy series on public television, visit the NYSE to celebrate the launch of five new episodes in April. In honor of the occasion, Kaelon Horst, Biz Kid$ host, and George Burdick, First Vice President, Wealth Advisor from Worcester, MA, ring The Closing Bell, joined by Alexander Oki and Austin Siedentopf, Biz Kid$ hosts, along with seven of the young entrepreneurs from Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York, who have been featured on the series.

One of the things I miss most about being in a credit union is the opportunity to visit local schools to provide financial education. I loved working with junior high students – yes I bribed them with pizza, candy and snacks but also brought them great information about managing money. I don’t know who learned more – them or me but I enjoyed every minute. Some called me a masochist but I liked junior high students – they had a lot to say and a lot to learn.

I began International Credit Union Week by giving a one-hour Biz Kid$ presentation at our local library. Since this was the introductory session, we selected episode 101 “What is a Biz Kid?” The library wisely scheduled the event on a day off from school (Columbus Day) and did a great job promoting the event in their publications and in the local newspaper. There were 33 kids registered…

As a credit union person who uses Biz Kid$ in the classroom, and one who watches it with the young people in my life on PBS, it was a thrill to be invited to tour the studio while visiting Seattle, WA.

When I walked through the nondescript doors and into the nerve center of one of my favorite programs, I felt like a kid in a candy store! The energy in the studio was electric…

334 PBS stations in all 50 states are broadcasting new episodes of the Emmy Award winning Biz Kid$ underwritten by America’s credit unions. Each episode of Biz Kid$ includes four stories from successful young entrepreneurs reinforcing the importance of saving, budgeting and giving back to their communities. Each episode comes with teaching materials, lesson plans and activities that meet national financial literacy standards. Credit union professionals and volunteers, as well as school teachers and after school programs are teaching the lessons from Biz Kids in Classrooms and community centers.