Auditor General DeFoor Encourages Organizations to Become a Be Money $mart Community Partner During Financial Literacy Month

HARRISBURG, PA - Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today encouraged businesses, schools and financial institutions to join the Be Money $mart initiative and become a Community Partner to share their financial literacy resources with Pennsylvanians.

"We have crisscrossed the commonwealth emphasizing the need for financial literacy education and recognizing Community Partners who have implemented or offer programs within their schools, organizations and communities," Auditor General DeFoor said. "Now, we have a new section on our Be Money $mart website where they can share their financial literacy resources with all Pennsylvanians. This is especially important during financial literacy month, so if you are interested in becoming a Be Money $mart Community Partner, let us know and we can share your resources to help Pennsylvanians become financially secure."

The Be Money $mart Community Partners represent organizations from around the state, including colleges and universities, school districts, financial institutions, local chambers of commerce, YMCAs and libraries. All have free resources available for anyone to download.

Since the launch of Be Money $mart in 2021, DeFoor has:

• Launched a statewide art contest for students to design the cover of a financial literacy activity book;
• Partnered with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Members 1st Federal Credit Union to coordinate a statewide financial literacy competition for high school students;
• Met with teachers and students in high school classrooms across Pennsylvania in recognition of successful financial literacy learning opportunities;
• Visited all state and state related universities in Pennsylvania, as well as community colleges, to talk about job and internship opportunities within the department and the importance of knowing how your money works;
• Moderated financial literacy panels for community organizations, the agriculture industry and local chambers of commerce;
• Partnered with the Pennsylvania Library Association to highlight free financial literacy resources and the PA Forward program;
• Visited YMCAs across the Commonwealth to talk about financial literacy for all ages;
• Worked with Junior Achievement to emphasize financial literacy messages to elementary school students and participated in multiple BizTown simulations; and
• Partnered with CrossState Credit Union Association and other credit unions and financial institutions across the state to promote free financial literacy resources, including hosting 'Money $mart Mondays' with PSECU.

For more information on the Department of the Auditor General's financial literacy efforts or to become a community partner, visit https://www.paauditor.gov/communitypartners.

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Media contact: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1381 or [email protected]