On Financial Literacy Days, volunteers go into K-2 classrooms and conduct interactive read-alouds with illustrated books authored by Doug Godard. Students learn about saving, budgeting, planning, donating, and making good choices. Every student receives a copy of the book to keep and take home. The program presents a convenient way to teach elementary school-age children about financial literacy while also offering a great opportunity for banks and financial institutions to give back. Banks can also receive CRA Credit for volunteer hours on Financial Literacy Days.
Required Curriculum 45 States
Financial education is a growing priority for school districts in the U.S., with 45 states now requiring it as part of their curriculum. However, a great deal of the financial education curriculum was developed for older students, primarily those in middle and high schools. Financial Literacy Days offer an opportunity to bring financial education to elementary school-aged children, with the interactive read-alouds taking place in kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade classrooms.
Bonzy Charities works with principals and school districts to organize Financial Literacy Days at elementary schools. These programs are offered to districts at no cost. Financial Institutions provide funding and volunteers for Financial Literacy Days.
Volunteers go into K-2 classrooms and conduct interactive read-alouds with one of the illustrated children’s books focused on personal financial literacy authored by Doug Godard. Ideally, two volunteers are teamed to read to a classroom. The read-alouds last between twenty and thirty minutes. Students’ names are then written on book labels (branded for the financial institution) in the books. Every student is given a book to keep and take home. Teachers and the school library are also given books.
Huntington Bank is inspiring the next generation of savers through Financial Literacy Days.
Students at West Broad Elementary School received a special visit from local TV host Cameron Fontana and Huntington Bank associates, led by Executive Vice President Donald Dennis. The students learned about financial concepts through books and interactive storytelling. With help from local author Doug Godard’s book, A Surprise for a Friend, students learned the importance of saving, budgeting, planning, and making good choices.
Huntington Bank is conducting Financial Literacy Days at elementary schools across its banking network, helping kids build healthy financial habits that last a lifetime.
Ready to be inspired by the financial wisdom of elementary school students? Click the button to see the impact of interactive storytelling in action.
Financial institutions contribute to our efforts to bring financial literacy to classrooms by funding the Financial Literacy Day events and arranging for volunteers to go into the classrooms and conduct read-alouds with students. Bonzy handles the coordination with the school districts and schools and the details. Volunteers simply sign up and show up.
Though personal financial education is increasingly recognized as an important part of young people’s education, many school districts focus their financial curriculum on older students. Financial Literacy Days offer schools a chance to bolster their personal financial literacy lesson plans for the youngest students, and we make it as easy as possible to book one of these events.Bonzy coordinates the details for schools and banks making Financial Literacy Days easy events for all involved.
Beginning with Best Day at the Zoo, author Doug Godard has written a series of children’s books that bring the concept of personal financial literacy to younger audiences through the same engaging storytelling style commonly used by Dr. Seuss. These books are read during Financial Literacy Days and distributed to students afterward.
The concepts of saving, budgeting, planning, donating, and making good choices are critical for children to understand starting in elementary school. Personal financial literacy for children is more than a national movement, with forty-five states now requiring financial education curricula to be taught in schools starting in kindergarten. Through conversations with principals and school districts, Bonzy learned that many of the books for elementary school students focus on identifying and counting money. A need was identified for a different approach to personal financial literacy.
In 2024, Congress designated April as Financial Literacy Month. During Financial Literacy Month, organizations across the country conduct events and initiatives to promote the importance of financial literacy and the need for effective financial education. In 2019, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) chaired the bipartisan Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, setting the stage for financial education as a cross-party issue.
Read The Senate ResolutionMany private and public entities offer programs that address personal financial literacy. This is a team effort. Below are a few entities that address financial education from different perspectives. Best Day at the Zoo and the Learning Guide are listed in the Jump$tart Clearinghouse as a curriculum resource. Bonzy Charities is a member of the FDIC Money Smart Alliance. Bonzy’s Financial Literacy Days are supported by ABA members.
Jump$tart Coalition co-wrote the National Standards for Personal Financial Education with the Council for Economic Education (CEE). Jump$tart is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit with a coalition of national partners and state affiliates that work collectively and collaboratively to advance financial education. Their partners are some of the largest financial institutions in the world.
The FDIC has programs, such as Smart Money and Learn Money Smart, that are resources for educators and the general public. The FDIC Money Smart Alliance members contribute curriculum to Smart Money programs.
The ABA Foundation (American Bankers Association Foundation) has programs such as Teach Children to Save that raise awareness about the important role of banks and bankers in helping young people develop lifelong savings habits.
Find out more about bringing Financial Literacy Days to your community. Reach out to us today with questions.
