TAPCO Credit Union Surprises Students with Grants to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 with Biz Kid$

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on November 19, 2024

On Nov. 7, the students of Hilltop Heritage Middle School in Tacoma, Wash., experienced class a little richer and quite surprised. Ninety-five students received $100 each thanks to a grant of $9,500 from TAPCO Credit Union along with the book How to Turn $100 Into $1,000,000. The hands-on learning event was part of a nationwide launch of the newly released 2nd edition of the book written by the producers of the Emmy and Parent’s Choice Awards-winning TV series, Biz Kid$.

Hilltop Heritage is the fifth Title I school in the country chosen to host a Biz Kid$ event where credit unions provide grants and books. Schools in Detroit, Mich., Canton, Ohio, Baton Rouge, La, and Washington D.C. have participated; however, the grant from TAPCO Credit Union is the largest in the nation to date.

“It is remarkable that TAPCO Credit Union is giving kids that need it the most in Tacoma the opportunity to put the book’s lessons into practice,” said Jeannine Glista, one of the authors of How to Turn $100 Into $1,000,000 and an Executive Producer of Biz Kid$. “Who knows, some of them might actually become a millionaire which was the result for many of the teens featured on Biz Kid$!”

Glista said giving the students grants to use the books is far more impactful than doing book signings and is something that is critically needed. The National Financial Educators Council released a report that found that all U.S. states fail to provide adequate basic financial education, and students are flunking financial literacy.

“We chose Hilltop Heritage and Tacoma Public Schools because its leadership has made some of the biggest strides in the state and nation in outcome-based education,” said Justin Martin, TAPCO Credit Union CEO. “We know this innovative lesson can be life-changing for these students.”

How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000, is a revised, comprehensive first guide to earning, saving, and investing money from the creators of Biz Kid$ and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Bonus content that matches each chapter with video clips, digital tools, and full episodes was also created to help parents support their child and bring the concepts to life for the reader.

Jamie Strayer, co-owner of Biz Kid$ and executive producer of Opportunity Knock$ on PBS who previously lived in the Tacoma Hilltop neighborhood praised Glista’s book as making a difference where other programs fall short, stating, “Teaching kids to become financially literate without money is like teaching an adult how to use software without a computer.”

“We are thrilled that our students have this opportunity from the Biz Kid$ team to learn practical tips about investing money, and grateful to TAPCO Credit Union for their generous donation to our students,” said Hilltop Heritage Middle School Principal Christine Brandt.

Posted in Community Impact, Financial Education, Regional Member News, Top Headlines, Washington.