Small Town News

Kids can learn that money matters with free educational program

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It's the season of backpacks, notebooks and Crayola. With back-to-school time comes a variety of expenditures, but Modern Woodmen of America's new Financial Literacy Program aims to educate local children about the importance of smart spending.

The free program lays the groundwork for successful money management by providing young people opportunities to gain age-appropriate knowledge and skills for today and the future.

"By offering this free program to local schools, homeschoolers and other groups, we can help ensure that children gain the knowledge and skills about budgeting and savings early," says Modern Woodmen Financial Representative Jason G Hoffman, Topeka. "We believe this is key to a successful financial future."

A 2009 University of Florida study indicates that students who are taught personal finance before attending college are more likely to have a budget and savings and less likely to max out credit cards during college. Despite the fact that a growing number of states include personal finance in state curriculum guidelines, many school systems do not have the funding to provide courses outside the core subjects in elementary, middle or high school.

Modern Woodmen developed "Money and You," its Financial Literacy Program, with the idea that as a child's knowledge of money grows, so does his or her respect for money and the likelihood of smart financial decisions in the future. The program is divided into three age groups. It can be used with kids in preschool through eighth grade, and it meets many national teaching standards.

The new program is one of six free Youth Educational Programs Modern Woodmen offers to schools, homeschoolers and youth groups nationwide. Donated through Modern Woodmen representatives across the country, these programs benefit more than 2 million kids annually.

To learn more or to request a free Youth Educational Program, contact Hoffman at 785-234-8600.

As a tax-exempt fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen sells life insurance, annuity and investment products not to benefit stockholders but to improve the quality of life of its stakeholders -- members, their families and their communities. This is accomplished through social, charitable and volunteer activities. In 2009 Modern Woodmen and its members provided more than $23 million and nearly 1 million volunteer hours for community projects nationwide.



Copyright 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise, Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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