Foundation Improving Youth Financial Education Through Reality Fair Technology

The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) has approved eight Bite of Reality App Grants totaling $40,000 to help credit union organizations bring additional scale and reach to the reality fair experience.

The Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation developed a Bite of Reality App to modernize reality fairs and add technology to the in-person fair experience, allowing students to use their mobile phone or tablet during the fair in place of pen and paper. The Bite of Reality App replaces student materials — notebooks, calculators, pencils, checkbooks and worksheets — while still requiring the students to engage with the volunteers and navigate the hard sales environment that is integral to the reality fair experience.

The credit union organizations receiving grants include:

• Heartland Credit Union Charitable Foundation, Kan. and Mo.
• Illinois Credit Union Foundation
• Indiana Credit Union Foundation
• Michigan Credit Union Foundation
• Northwest Credit Union Foundation
• Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation
• Royal Credit Union
• Summit Credit Union

“The Foundation has seen first-hand the profound effectiveness of Reality Fairs for over ten years,” said Danielle Brown, engagement director at NCUF. “We are proud to fund these organizations to bring technology, additional scale and reach to the reality fair experience through the Bite of Reality App.”

The NCUF grant will assist with the cost of customizing the App for use with the Michigan Financial Reality Fair. Additional funding for the App development is provided by the Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF).

With help from MCUF, Michigan credit unions conducted 51 Financial Reality Fairs in 2018, helping more than 4,600 teens prepare for their financial future. Learn more at MCUF.mcul.org.