Blog Post: Azusa Students Participate In Financial Literacy Event at Memorial Park Recreation Center

SCE Federal Credit Union Foundation and Azusa’s Think Together, a non-profit after-school program, recently partnered to bring an SCE Federal Credit Union “Mad City Money” event to Azusa and Gladstone High Schools.  Mad City Money assigned students with a life scenario, complete with career, income, debt and insurance payments – even a spouse and children.  Students encountered unforeseen circumstances such as an illness or losing one’s job during the simulation, which made them work harder to manage their money.

Participants learned how to write a check, balance a checkbook, budget for groceries and childcare, among other things during the two-hour financial literacy event. College students from Azusa Pacific University volunteered as merchants, often up-selling the students into buying higher-priced items, which in turn caused them to fall into debt.

“Our Mad City Money events aim to teach smart money management skills through hands-on training,” says Dennis Huber, SCE Federal Credit Union’s CEO.  “It’s important that young adults understand sound financial practices before heading off to the real world.”

Azusa’s high school students are not required to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate, which has been an impetus for SCE Federal Credit Union’s Foundation to offer Mad City Money events.  The Azusa event was a success as students and administrators thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  SCE Federal Credit Union and Think Together hope to partner again, offering Mad City Money to more young adults in Azusa.

Abigail Ulm
Foundation Manager, SCE Federal Credit Union