Celebrating Financial Literacy: A Powerful Collaboration for Young Learners and Their Families
by Team Sammy
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Empowering Young Minds: A Partnership for Financial Literacy in Los Angeles
In honor of Financial Literacy Month, we proudly celebrate the impactful collaboration between Citizens Business Bank (CBB), New Economics for Women, and Sammy Rabbit. For several years, this partnership has been committed to delivering engaging financial education experiences and resources to elementary school children and their families in the Los Angeles area.
Through this meaningful collaboration, young learners and parents have participated in a variety of enriching activities, including:
An 8-week virtual financial education program
Student interaction and mentorship from volunteer bankers, including a special guest appearnce by Citizens Business Bank CEO, David Brager
The creation of Dream Big journals to inspire goal setting
The development of money slogans to reinforce smart financial habits
Earning opportunities, contests, and cash rewards to encourage practical learning
In-person visits from an author, Sammy Rabbit, and volunteer bankers
Parent workshops to support family financial literacy
Banker and Student Insights
Here’s a look at some of the dreams, thoughts, and activities participants have shared during this financial education collaboration!
Jess Tirado, Vice President and Community Development Officer
“The number one comment I hear from CBB associates who volunteer with Sammy Rabbit is that they wish they had been introduced to these concepts and ideas – from every dollar save a dime, saving money is a good habit, or being encouraged to dream big – when they were in elementary school. Teaching children about finances at an early age is crucial for their future financial success.”
Tricia Littman, Senior Vice President, Manager
“I have come to admire and respect the impact the Sammy Rabbit curriculum is having on elementary school children. Children are learning key foundational principles, such as saving money, spending wisely, and knowing their dreams and hard work can take them anywhere. Having these values instilled at such an early age will 100% make them more successful adults. I get such joy every time I am lucky enough to work with Sammy, inspiring our future business leaders and entrepreneurs.”
Karina Vasquez, Vice President, Service Manager
"Teaching children to save money is not just about saving a dime a day; it's about instilling a sense of responsibility and creating good habits that will serve them well throughout their lives."
From Citizens Business Bank's CSR Report
New Economics for Women’s mission is to build economic mobility for women and families through entrepreneurship, housing, wealth creation, and education. The Bank continued its support of NEW’s financial education program using the Sammy Rabbit’s Money School curriculum. Created by children’s author Sam Renick, Sammy Rabbit teaches elementary school students the value of building great money habits and having big dreams through a combination of storytelling, music, and videos. A new element in 2024 was the addition of two virtual webinars for the parents of the students, in English and Spanish, on the topics of Banking Basics and How to Teach Kids About Money, so they could reinforce their children’s financial education at home.
Summary
The collaboration between Citizens Business Bank, New Economics for Women, and Sammy Rabbit is a model partnership for effectively achieving and executing CRA and CSR policy goals. By uniting the strengths of a mission-driven microenterprise, a community-focused nonprofit, and a committed financial institution, the partnership brought high-quality financial education, literacy, and life skills resources to underserved families and youth. This partnership strategy demonstrated how CRA and CSR programs can be leveraged to foster financial inclusion, bridge opportunity gaps, inspire big dreams, and empower low-income communities with critical money habits and life skills. Through shared purpose and strategic collaboration, the partners delivered real impact, helping families build stronger financial foundations and brighter futures.
That's what we want!
Contact
Have questions, suggestions, or want to learn more? Contact Team Sammy!
Email: contact@sammyrabbit.com
Website: Contact For
Opportunities for Impact
We're here to help and share our 25 years of firsthand, 'in-the-trenches' experience.
This is exactly the kind of project and strategy we’d love to find partners to scale. If you're looking for impactful opportunities in your community or with the audiences you serve, explore Sammy Rabbit’s Financial Education Project Menu—featuring big, small, and custom-tailored strategies designed to align with your aims and ambitions.
Together, let's make quality early-age and family financial literacy more accessible and impactful!