At heart, Blue Federal Credit Union is optimistic, spending their time, money, and energy doing meaningful work that makes a difference for the community. In this unpredictable year, the company’s optimism was a welcome relief for Junior Achievement (JA) and classrooms in Wyoming and Northern Colorado. As a new community partner, Blue Federal Credit Union made a gift of $10,000 to support JA programs.
“With the loss of our spring and summer fundraising events due to the pandemic, it was support like Blue’s that allowed us to continue providing our programs to teachers and parents,” says Elizabeth Winn, JA District Director for Northern Colorado and Wyoming. “Blue’s support directly aided our efforts to adapt all of our programs for virtual delivery over the summer, and then hit the road running when schools started up this fall. Blue’s grant is still making an impact up and down the front range and into Wyoming.”
Junior Achievement worked diligently over the summer months to recreate its financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programs for the current socially distanced (and remote) learning environment. The key was maintaining the high level of quality JA is known for, while also keeping lessons inspiring and engaging for students. The result has been an innovative combination of video presentations, virtual interactions with community volunteers, downloadable activities, and game-based simulations of real-world scenarios.
As a part of the partnership, Blue employees are diving in as virtual volunteers for JA students, and are recording sessions for JA’s Economics for Success program. The program provides middle school students with practical information about personal finance, managing money properly, and identifying education and career goals.
“Blue Federal Credit Union is a strong believer that teaching our youth about finances will pay dividends throughout their life,” says Chandler Elmore, Blue’s Community Development & Engagement Lead. “That is why Blue is honored to be a supporter of Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, having a financially literate future workforce helps everyone succeed. Blue’s employees work hard to help members, future members and non-members thrive, and partnering with Junior Achievement brings that mission to life in a very tangible way.”
