Falcon Heights, Minnesota  SPIRE Credit Union has been honored with both the 2017 Youth and Adult Desjardins Financial Education Awards!  The awards, sponsored by the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of financial literacy. 
 
The Youth Desjardins Award was received for SPIRE’s partnership with Elk River High School’s (ERHS) DECA class on the Future Finance Academy program.  On day one, 96 ERHS students pre-tested on core financial concepts at an accuracy rate of 39%.  On day four of the interactive financial course, the same students post-tested at an accuracy rate of 90.93%, a 190.93% increase! The DECA students went on to win third place in the state DECA competition, winning a trip to nationals in California. 

 For the third consecutive year, SPIRE also won the Adult Desjardins Award for its commitment to educating adults throughout Minnesota on financial topics.  Throughout 2016, a record-setting 1,052 adults from varying needs and sectors of society were reached with over 110 classroom hours.  This is a 64% increase over the preceding period, and is higher than any preceding year of SPIRE offering financial education.   
 
The 10th year was truly the “banner year” of the SPIRE Youth and Adult Financial Literacy Outreach Programs.  Since its inception in 2008, SPIRE has reached 4,700+ individuals over nearly 500 classroom hours.  “SPIRE believes that it is our duty to provide financial education to adults and youth,” says Bridget Petersen, SPIRE’s financial literacy coordinator, “Our efforts strive to empower people to become financially successful and thrive throughout life.”   
 
The Credit Union’s winning entry will advance to the national competition, where it will compete with financial education projects from credit unions in other states. 
 
“The amount of time and dedication SPIRE employees give to these initiatives is impressive,” says Dan Stoltz, President & CEO of SPIRE, “SPIRE employees truly live and breathe our mission of improving lives within our communities!”  
 
The award is named in honor of Alphonse Desjardins, the founder of the North American credit union movement, who established the first “caisse populaire” (people’s bank) in Quebec in 1900, and helped establish the first American credit union in New Hampshire in 1909. Desjardins was an ardent believer in the value of teaching children to save, and he promoted the idea of in-school savings programs. 
 
About SPIRE Credit Union: A full-service financial institution, proudly serving Minnesota and Wisconsin residents since 1934. SPIRE is committed to providing smart products, great rates and excellent service with a goal to improve the financial lives for both personal and business members. SPIRE has 17 branches across the metro and throughout northern Minnesota.