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Health & Fitness

CCCS of MD & DE Is Honored for Years of Partnership with MCEE

On October 4, 2013, nonprofit CCCS of MD and DE was honored for its 20+ year partnership with the Maryland Council on Economic Education. The agencies have worked together to financially educate thousands of Marylanders during that time.

National nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE (CCCS) was recently recognized for its longstanding partnership with the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE).  The honor was presented to CCCS President and CEO Jim Godfrey at an awards event at the 52nd Annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference sponsored by the Council on Economic Education.

CCCS has worked closely with MCEE for more than 20 years.  When MCEE Executive Director Mary Ann Hewitt presented the award, she thanked Jim Godfrey for his inspiration and service, noting that he has provided leadership while serving on MCEE’s board.  She also emphasized that MCEE has benefited from CCCS’s knowledge of the credit industry and its ongoing support of projects, such as the Financial Literacy Poster Contest for elementary school students, the Maryland Personal Finance Challenge for high school juniors and seniors, and the annual Financial Education Summit hosted for educators throughout the state. 

Concluding her remarks, Hewitt said, “As a founding member of the Maryland Coalition for Financial Literacy and through its guidance on innovative program efforts, CCCS has proven itself an invaluable financial education partner.  It has helped MCEE move to the next level so we are better prepared to financially empower educators both now and in the future.”

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Accepting the award, Jim Godfrey said, “Consumers who learn to tell the difference between wants and needs, how to budget, and how financial services work as early as possible are better prepared to deal with the economically complex and uncertain world in which we live.  They also are more likely to make better informed personal finance decisions throughout their lives. Increasing financial literacy is a big job.  It takes involvement from every one of us.  CCCS is dedicated to this fight, and we feel fortunate to work with like-minded partners like the MCEE, the Council on Economic Education, and willing educators.  Together we have the opportunity to help our children and their families learn and have a better quality of life.”

575 people came together to share ideas and information at the 52nd Annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference.  K-12 teachers, college and university professors, community advocates, and Federal Reserve partners took part. CCCS sponsored 10 of the 111ed and seventy fiveamo Maryland educators who attended. 

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The conference featured a wide range of presentations, workshops and events to help educators increase economic and financial literacy among K–12 students. Participants also had the opportunity to check out the latest in curriculum development, instructional materials, teaching strategies, new programs and best practices for teaching personal finance. 

Lansdowne High School Academy of Finance Coordinator Michael Martin says, “My style has always been to bring the real world into the classroom, and this conference did just that.  It showcased lessons from educators across the nation that we as teachers can use to engage our students.”

Dr. Maddy Halbach, who works as an instructor for the Howard County Academy of Finance, agrees.  She especially enjoyed a Federal Reserve presentation that showed how items like credit cards with microchips and digital wallets are changing the electronic payment industry.  “Given my students’ love for ‘all things new and technological,’ this information will be a welcome addition in class.” 

At the conference, she also discovered many new teaching tools she can take back to the classroom. “I was really excited to learn about a budget simulation Michael Martin has devised for students who are going out on their own for the first time.  I immediately called him and asked if I could use it, because we’re just getting ready to cover budgeting in one of my classes. I would never have had the opportunity to obtain all these new ideas and resources without CCCS’s sponsorship.”

Halbach says one of the best parts of the conference was the chance to spontaneously interact with other educators.  “It gave us a chance to sit down and talk candidly -- to share what has and hasn’t worked for each of us.” 

Jim Godfrey applauds Martin and Halbach’s enthusiasm.  “Educators and financial counselors like ours play a crucial role in the financial literacy effort.  Their passion, knowledge, and constant search for effective ways to connect with their students and clients help ensure that Americans learn the personal finance skills they need to survive and thrive.”

To learn more about CCCS of MD & DE’s educational efforts and services, please visit the agency’s website.  To take advantage of its counseling programs and educational workshops, please call 1-800-642-2227.  Financial, housing, and bankruptcy counseling and classes are provided at local offices throughout the Baltimore area, in Salisbury, Dover, Wilmington, and Claymont, and by phone.

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Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE, Inc. (CCCS) is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that helps stabilize communities by creating hope and promoting economic self-sufficiency to individuals and families through financial education and counseling.  CCCS MD State License #14-01

 

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