Money Smart Week ® Indiana

Hammond, IN -- On Tuesday, September 27, Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) and Bank on Northwest Indiana are partnering to present a free workshop open to the public. The session, led by local financial institution leaders, will offer insights into credit cards, identity theft, budgeting and banking relationships. Registration will take place from 8:30 – 9:00 am, with workshop sessions going from 9:00 – 11:20 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.  To register for the event, please call Calumet College of St. Joseph’s Development Office at 219-463-4318 or email Melissa at mgenova1@ccsj.edu.

This session is made possible through the support of Bank on Northwest Indiana’s committed partners: FDIC, Indiana State Treasurer’s Office, Centier Bank, Citizens Financial Bank, First Midwest Bank, Peoples Bank, Northwest Indiana Community Action, Lake Area United Way, The Holok Group, Greater Hammond Community Services and United Neighborhood Organizations, Inc.  

Centier Bank and the Hammond Housing Authority are hosting two free seminars in the upcoming months. The first seminar, Financial Recovery, is taking place on Wednesday, October 19 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The session will focus on how to recover financially and rebuild credit after a financial setback. And on Wednesday, November 9 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., a seminar entitled To Your Credit will be held. Participants will learn how their credit history will affect their credit future. Both seminars will take place at the Hammond Housing Authority office; snacks will be provided. Registration details are listed on the event flyers.

Throughout the upcoming fall months, the Carmel Clay Public Library in Hamilton county will be hosting several classes focused on promoting financial literacy. A variety of topics will be covered, including investment fraud, credit scores and financial education for children.   This program is made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart investing @ your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association.  For more information, view the list of events or contact (317) 844-3433.

Registration is now open for the 1st Annual Indiana Financial Literacy Summit, taking place Thursday, October 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Wyndham Hotel in Indianapolis. This event will bring together individuals and organizations from across the state who are interested in or already promoting financial literacy. There will be panels discussing statewide initiatives, a keynote speaker talking about Financial Literacy 2.0, break out sessions with best practices sharing, an exhibitor room with great resources and more!

Attendee registration is $15 and includes a light breakfast and lunch. Exhibitor registration is $25 (does not include lunch or participation in sessions). Space is limited so register online today. If you have questions, please contact Melanie Woods at mlwoods@sos.in.gov or 317-233-3985.

In an effort to push for a nationwide Money Smart Week campaign Indiana will not be having a full Money Smart Week in the fall this year and going forward. Instead, there will be a smaller fall promotion, with the full Money Smart Week happening the week of April 21 - April 28, 2012, in harmony with the rest of the states. For more details please contact Alejo Torres or Tiffany Butler.

Money Smart Week Indiana successfully wrapped up in October 2010. Money Smart partners continued to expand their subject offerings and reach new audiences. In 2010, Money Smart Week Indiana hosted more than 240 events and activities with more than 1,400 participants. One of the highlights from this event was the Money Smart Week Kickoff. Money Smart Week Indiana kicked off with a breakfast in Indianapolis attended by more than 120 partners. Winners of the first ever Money Smart Week Kid essay contest were recognized, along with their families. For the second year, the Indiana Jump$tart Coalition honored an educator who is passionate about financial literacy and incorporates in into their classroom. Local financial planner, Peter Dunn, wrapped up the breakfast with an energizing speech about the bigger picture of why it’s important to focus on financial literacy.

The first ever Money Smart Week Indiana Kid Essay Contest asked students in grades six through eight to write a short essay outlining what advice they would give to a friend who is struggling with credit card debt. Many outstanding essays were received; however, three students were publicly recognized and awarded scholarships.

First place was awarded to Jayon, a 13-year-old, eighth grade student at Pierce Middle School in Merrillville. For an exceptional essay, he was awarded a $1,000 CollegeChoice 529 scholarship and was honored at the kick-off breakfast in Indianapolis. In his essay, Jayon included the following tips for getting out of credit card debt: inform the credit card company you are having financial problems, search the internet for non-profit debt relief programs, stop charging on all of your credit cards and work on your prevention plan. Jayon gained much of his knowledge about money by running his own car wash business in fifth grade in addition to earning and saving Pirate Bucks at Pierce Middle School.

Second place, a $500 scholarship, went to Taylor Elwood. Taylor is a 12-year-old, seventh grade student at Northside Middle School in Columbus. Third place, a $250 scholarship, went to Teng Lee, a 13-year-old, eighth grade student at Maple Crest Middle School in Kokomo.

We congratulate all our Money Smart students on their money smarts!