Education and Camp Guide 2.1 - Flipbook - Page 7
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, February 1, 2026 7
Sponsored Content
Experiential Learning
Equals Financial Wellness
in Community
First Financial Federal Credit Union
and local schools partner on programs
By Lisa Baldino, Contributing Writer
M
oney management, budget-building and smart
investments – these are just
a few of the real-life lessons
available to students attending public
and private schools in Baltimore, Carroll,
Somerset, Worchester and most recently,
Cecil Counties. Brought to the community by First Financial Federal Credit
Union, the platform is designed to raise
youth awareness about the importance of
managing money – before they get out of
school and into the real world.
Cindy Jones, Youth Outreach manager at First Financial, says the organization’s youth financial wellness program
has flourished, growing from a simple
speaker’s bureau in the 1990s to a comprehensive financial wellness platform
with a number of hands-on youth programs reaching thousands of young people in the credit union’s member region.
“From these visits, the credit union
listened to feedback and developed its
current platform: a community-based,
hands-on, experiential engagement,”
Jones says. Among the financial wellness
programs are student-run First Financial
branch locations in five different public
high schools in Baltimore County, and
another at Calvert Hall, a private school.
All locations are staffed by student
interns and guided by faculty advisors.
The Calvert Hall branch is associated
with the school’s lunch program, and the
goal is to teach students to manage their
own school money. It also makes purchases at the school cafeteria or bookstore cashless.
The hands-on learning continues with
First Financial Federal’s sponsorship of
the Stock Market Game – popular with
elementary, middle and high school students. “We work with MCEE (Maryland
Council on Economic Education) for all
schools within our field of membership,
so that all students can participate in the
game and learn valuable investing skills,”
Jones says. The Stock Market Game features an online simulation where students
can invest virtually in real-time stocks,
bonds and mutual funds, research the
investment possibilities and make recommendations on the most sensible investment tools.
First Financial has put the “arms and
legs” on these broader programs with
other opportunities for interaction.
Student Professional Discovery Day
gives high school students a glimpse into
the financial world. Students can explore
various careers and departments within a
financial institution.
The Millionaire’s Club focuses on
experiential learning that provides personal finance skills meant to serve students well in any fluctuating financial
market. The Club materials can be used
in the classroom as a teaching supplement or in independent studies in school
clubs. Jones notes that First Financial
sponsors 12 active clubs in the region,
covering seed grant funding, curriculum,
faculty advisor and no-cost materials for
club members.
The Adulting 101 course is offered
by First Financial as a reality class. It
involves a simulation of a month in the
life of a working adult. “Each student
receives a life scenario that includes a
career, associated salary, life situation,
and potentially any student loans needed
for their career. From there they will make
budgeting choices about healthcare,
childcare and entertainment, in addition
to routine bill-paying and other considerations,” Jones explains. “Financial wellness skills that students develop during
this simulation will have an impact on
their future. Understanding the power of
budgeting can play an important role in
achieving their life goals.”
There’s more. First Financial sponsors the JA (Junior Achievement) Finance
Park, a simulation that teaches budgeting
skills to middle and high school students.
A visit to Finance Park is required of all
Baltimore County Public School seventh
graders.
Impressed? Remember the speaker’s
bureau that started this financial wellness
endeavor? Now called “Money Talks,”
the opportunity is available to all schools
within the credit union’s membership
field. “’Money Talks’ is an engaging and
informative presentation. It supports one
of First Financial’s primary goals of financial wellness for all our members, and we
believe this begins with our students,”
Jones says. She notes that in the 202425 school year, over 400 financial presentations and/or youth programs were
delivered to area schools.
In addition, First Financial employees
serve on the Boards of Directors for
the Education Foundation of Baltimore
County Public Schools, Maryland Council
on Economic Education and CCPS
Academy of Finance.
“This is something we offer the community,” Jones emphasizes. “It starts at
the top. From our Board of Directors,
CEO and president to our branch managers and local teams, we are committed
to supporting the financial wellness of our
community.”
