On August 3, PFCU’s Accredited Financial Counselor Erin Ellis received the Financial Excellence award as part of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disability Services’ (DBHIDS) 28th Annual My City My Place: Brighter Futures Awards. This award was announced earlier this year and recognizes individuals outside of the DBHIDS system who consistently provide support to individuals and families with intellectual disabilities and physical challenges. Erin was nominated, and ultimately selected as a winner, for the work she does with SpArc Philadelphia as well as the other financial work she does with the various members of her community.
Erin Ellis with her Brighter Futures Financial Excellence award.
On August 5, Erin co-facilitated a webinar with Karen Pinckney for WorkReady students at Urban Affairs Coalition where they talked about “paying yourself first” and setting financial goals. The webinar was part of the UAC’s Money Mindset & Mentoring Series and is part of its WorkReady Youth Summer Program, which provides paid summer job opportunities to youth ages 14-18. The six-week program runs from July through August and includes career exposure, on-the-job mentoring, and professional development.
Promotional flier for the webinar on August 5.
On August 7, four students from JEVS Project WOW (World of Work) graduated from the now-virtual Financial Advancement Network (FAN) Club that Erin leads in partnership with the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC). FAN Clubs are small groups of people who meet on a regular basis (six sessions in total) to improve their money management habits, rectify troubled financial situations, and pursue their financial goals. Throughout the program, Erin discusses financial education topics like payroll taxes, paystubs, and more to ensure these students are continuing to hone their financial literacy skills.
On August 13, Erin facilitated a webinar with meal providers of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, where she discussed various general financial education topics that impact the people they serve. The discussion touched on the cost of people being unbanked and underbanked, the best way to navigate the traditional banking system (including the benefits of credit unions), budgeting strategies, goals, fraud, and more.
On August 14, Erin facilitated a webinar with another Project WOW class that’s studying Property Maintenance and Repair. During the webinar, she offered some general yet valuable financial education based on the students’ expressed interests. Through this program, Philadelphia youth ages 18-24 receive free skills training, job placement assistance, and GED®/high school equivalency test preparation so that they can take the next step towards furthering their career.
If you are interested in hosting a seminar in your community or at your place of employment, PFCU’s seminars are always free and offered on a variety of topics. We will work with you to schedule the most convenient time for a virtual seminar. If you would like to schedule a one- or two-hour financial education seminar, please contact Erin Ellis at financialeducation@pfcu.com.