CCUL, Richard Myles Foundation Pet Walking for Education

RANCHO CUUCAMONGO, Calif. -The Richard Myles Johnson Foundation and local chapters of the California Credit Union League are hitting the streets with their pets during the “Paws for Education Walks” to raise money for financial literacy education in California high schools. Credit union staff, members, volunteers, and others will collect pledges for every kilometer they walk with their pets. Arrow Credit Union CEO Judy Happ came up with the idea and says all are welcome -even those without furry friends. “We’re going to `rent’ dogs from people who have more than one to people who don’t have one,” said Happ. The Paws for Education Walk will be held September 6 in three locations: Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, in San Dimas; McKinley Park, in Sacramento; and San Leandro Marina, in San Leandro. For a $25 donation, members of the public and others can join in without collecting pledges. All participants will get a Paws for Education T-shirt, donated by Western Corporate Federal Credit Union. “With America’s rising number of personal bankruptcies, increases in consumer credit card debt, and inadequate retirement savings, the need to teach financial literacy in our high schools is critical. However, the majority of schools throughout California don’t provide students with personal finance education,” said Stan Abrams, Foundation chairman, and CEO of Vista FCU. “By supporting our Paws for Education Walk, credit unions and the communities they serve can help give our youth a solid financial foundation on which to build.” Funds raised from pledges will go to the Foundation, to create grants for credit unions that are involved with schools or with educational organizations. The grants will help provide schools with in-kind assistance, financial education resources like the National Endowment for Financial Education’s High School Financial Planning Program, and credit union or other financial professionals who can teach students about financial literacy.