Virginia Credit Union Honored By Richmond Public Schools’ Careers Program as Community Partner of the Year
23 Mayo 2024 - 11:07AM
Virginia Credit Union was recently recognized by the Richmond
Public Schools' Career and Technical Education (CTE) program as its
Community Partner of the Year.
“We truly appreciate Virginia Credit Union’s partnership. From
hosting CTE events to supporting Career Pathways events, Virginia
Credit Union is enriching our programming, helping us inspire
students, and enabling us to deliver hands-on, real-world
experiences that support our academic programs,” said Richmond
Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education Manager Rhonda
Turner, Ed.D.
The CTE program is designed to help students discover their
career interests and personal strengths, and begin to gather the
knowledge, skills and abilities to land jobs in their
fields-of-interest or pursue a college degree.
CTE offers programs of study focused on a number of career
fields, including finance, information technology, skilled trades
and industrial education, manufacturing, science and technology,
and business management.
“Our partnership with Virginia Credit Union has been nothing
short of remarkable. For the last three years, the credit union has
supplied our high school students with valuable financial
information, hands-on demonstrations, and personal face-to-face
discussions,” said Darlene Slade, lead transition mentor teacher at
Huguenot High School. “Our partnership has grown into one that has
become a vital part of our quest to prepare our students for a
quality life after high school and I am extremely grateful that we
can offer these amazing opportunities through the Virginia Credit
Union.”
“At VACU, we value deeply our longstanding and successful
partnership with Richmond Public Schools and the CTE program,” said
Cherry Dale, the credit union’s senior vice president of financial
education and a member of the CTE Advisory Committee for Richmond
Public Schools. “We also embrace the important role we can play in
helping our local schools prepare students for today’s
workforce.”
An important component of VACU’s participation in the CTE
program has been to ensure students receive training in personal
finance basics.
VACU Financial Education Program Manager Chris Woodbury recently
worked with students on how to plan a family budget, factoring in
costs like housing, transportation, food and child care. He also
recently worked with students in the culinary arts program,
mentoring them on money management basics.
“We work to bring a real-world perspective to possible careers
in finance and to highlight, for all students, the importance of
being knowledgeable about money management basics,” said Woodbury.
“No matter what career path a student pursues, the ability to
manage and save money, use credit wisely, and make sound financial
decisions is essential to achieving financial capability,
confidence and security.”
VACU has made an extraordinary investment in our members and the
City of Richmond the last several years. The credit union has
opened or relocated five branch locations within the city, not only
to serve members, but to contribute to the financial strength of
our community. Our partnership with Richmond Public Schools
includes participation in the CTE program, classroom presentations
on money management basics, and the launch of RPS Saves, a program
designed to promote savings and financial education for city
students, teachers and staff. Other recent initiatives include
partnerships with the Office of Community Wealth Building, the
Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority, the Richmond City
Treasurer’s Office, the Richmond Public Library system, and the
Mayor’s Youth Academy.
The credit union was honored with the Richmond Economic
Development Partner of the Year Award in 2023 for its outstanding
support of education and work to promote the economic vitality of
the city.
Click here to learn more about VACU’s community initiatives and
financial education programs.
About Virginia Credit UnionA financial
cooperative serving more than 320,000 members, Virginia Credit
Union offers a variety of affordable banking services, loans,
mortgages, and free financial education resources, with a focus on
helping people feel more confident about their finances. Virginia
Credit Union is an equal housing opportunity lender and is
federally insured by NCUA.
- VACU Honored by Richmond Public Schools
Lewis Wood
Virginia Credit Union
804-560-5664
lewis.wood@vacu.org