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February 2018
Entries Needed for 2018 Money Smart Kid Essay Contest

Former winner Myles Gage talks about his experience as the Money Smart Kid

CHICAGO- (February 7, 2018) – Fifth through eighth grade students are encouraged to enter the 2018 Money Smart Kid Essay Contest currently underway in conjunction with the upcoming Chicago-Area Money Smart Week April 21-28.

Students in the greater Chicagoland area (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties) are asked to write an essay of 300 words or less on the following topic:

What are the potential devastating effects of a natural disaster (fire, flood, hurricane, etc.) on a family’s financial situation, including tips and resources to help prepare for potential future unexpected crises?

In addition to writing the essay, students must be recommended by a teacher or guardian and be able to demonstrate how they practice good money management.

Six finalists will be selected to attend the Money Smart Kick-Off breakfast April 19 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. One student will be named 2018’s Money Smart Kid and spend a year as Chicago’s financial literacy ambassador. Prizes include a $3,000 scholarship for the first-place winner, and two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to the runner-ups. The three scholarships are sponsored by COUNTRY Financial, and a representative of the company will present the awards to each of these winners. The three other finalists in attendance will receive laptop computers courtesy of Woodforest National Bank.

“The Money Smart Kid essay contest is a fun and exciting way to engage students with a wide variety of money concepts, and it challenges them to critically think about solving real-life money issues,” said Heather Greenwell, Outreach Program Lead, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. “All past winners have been outstanding and very impressive young men and women, and we fully anticipate meeting yet another future money expert with this year’s contest.”

Watch the first Money Smart Week Kid contest winner, Myles Gage, discuss how winning the contest impacted his life.


All essays must be submitted (postmarked) by March 2, 2018. Students must include a teacher recommendation and have parent or guardian permission. For rules and entry forms, visit http://www.moneysmartweek.org/kids_competition, and choose the Chicago contest tab.

Created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002, Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of thousands of organizations across the country including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media. Programming is offered to all demographics and income levels and covers all facets of personal finance. Partnering organizations will host their events April 21 - 28, 2018. For more information about events or becoming a partner, visit www.moneysmartweek.org.


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