Wave Federal Credit Union Sponsors Financial Education Fairs
Over 250 students from Toll Gate High School and Pilgrim High School, in Warwick, Rhode Island, participated in Wave Federal Credit Union’s CU 4 Reality™ Financial Education Fairs on April 23 and April 24 at each school.
At these events, elected officials that included the Mayor, Secretary of State, General Treasurer, State Senate, Speaker of the RI House of Representatives, School Committee, Interim Superintendent of Schools, school administrators, community leaders, and other invited guests were represented. The Honorable Frank Picozzi, Mayor of the City of Warwick, presented a proclamation at each fair proclaiming Financial Literacy Day in the City of Warwick. Secretary of State Gregg Amore praised the program and stated that this experience will help them to move forward in life with a secure financial future. General Treasurer James Diossa discussed the importance of saving and investing in the future and to start early, and State Senator Mark McKenney (District 30) said that the skills they are learning this year will help them in the real world, which he referred to as the “RW.”
During the 2024-2025 academic year, Wave Federal Credit Union sponsored Winter Fairs at both schools, and David Dupéré, President and CEO of Wave Federal Credit Union, stated that the credit union is pleased to offer this program once again in the Spring. He said that the CU 4 Reality™ Financial Program and Fairs complement the financial literacy legislation that passed in Rhode Island (RIGL 16-22-13) that requires all students to demonstrate proficiency in financial literacy before high school graduation, and this learning experience reinforces the teaching in the classroom and meets this need. During the school year, credit union representatives were invited monthly over the course of two semesters to present topics to help the students increase their understanding of the importance of managing their personal finances to be prepared for the financial challenges and lifestyle decisions they will face as adults.
Sponsored by Wave Federal Credit Union, the CU 4 Reality™ Financial Education Fair is the culminating event that places students through a realistic budgeting experience during which they make a series of spending decisions like those made by a young adult. The Fair provides the students the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom and interact with local businesses as consumers based on their chosen career and corresponding monthly income. The students met with representatives from Wave Federal Credit Union and various businesses and industries to include Community College of Rhode Island, Coldwell Banker Realty, DeGiulio Insurance Group, LLC, Generations Financial Strategies LLC, Premier Home Realty, LLC, Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, Stop and Shop, Tasca Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM Fiat, and others to gain a better appreciation of the importance of budgeting, financial planning and making wise purchasing decisions.
