Congratulations to Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union – winner of the 2019 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Small Business Volunteer Program! Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union (VBSFCU) is creating a lasting impact on the financial literacy education of the students in their community. VBSFCU serves as a Partner in Education with Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), volunteering annually in more than 30 schools. Each year, 18 volunteers deploy to the schools for 300 hours of service to enhance financial education through programs like Reality Store events; student-run, school-based credit unions; work and family studies; financial education; financial literacy through reading programs; and hands-on budgeting and financial management simulation.
Volunteers also lead student on tours of the credit union and provide consumable instructional materials in the form of checkbooks to allow students to learn how to write checks and balance accounts. Each Friday volunteers are at the schools to supervise transactions and attend school events throughout the year, including reading and math literacy nights to help parents/families open in-school credit union accounts for their children. They also conduct in-school visits with work and family studies high and middle classes to help students understand the importance in making good financial decisions. Staff serve on school curriculum committees and VBSFCU also provides high school internship opportunities, offers scholarships and backpack donations, sponsors Virginia Beach Education Foundation events and facilitates adult financial skills classes through their Bank On program.
VBSFCU’ s service in our schools to assist our students and teachers not only with the materials needed but also the professional expertise to strengthen financial education and provide real world experiences is immeasurable and has and will continue to impact generations of students.