“TEACH CHILDREN TO SAVE” PROGRAM AWARDS SAVINGS BONDS TO GILMER & HARMONY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
November, 2007

Austin Bank recently selected three student winners from Grand Saline Elementary School in its “Teach Children to Save” Program.  Students were awarded a $50 savings bond as part of this financial literacy education program which included a bank-sponsored coloring contest for elementary school students and instructional materials for each teacher.
 
Grand Saline students winning a savings bond were Amber Brewer, First Grade; Leslie Moreno, Second Grade; and Ana Paredes, Third Grade

Overall, Austin Bank awarded $50 savings bonds to 202 student winners in its “Teach Children to Save” coloring contest. 

The bank’s financial education program recognized the artistic work of East Texas elementary students in Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grade from 71 school districts within East Texas.  Art work from approximately 27,000 students was judged by each local Austin Bank.  Winners were selected from each participating elementary school.

Teach Children to Save is an educational program that focuses on the importance of saving and money-management skills. In this program, students were invited to color a drawing.  In addition, instructional resources were provided to the teachers along with children’s books.  The bank donated copies of the books “Bunny Money” by Rosemary Wells and “Dollars and Sense” by Stan and Jan Berenstain to 1,073 elementary school classrooms.

Schools in all communities served by Austin Bank’s 23 locations were invited to participate in “Teach Children to Save”.  Teaching tools and materials were distributed to 72 school districts covering 27,716 students attending public and private schools in East Texas.

“We want this program to help children gain money-management skills and be better prepared to make financial decisions in the future.  All children should be encouraged to save, share and spend wisely as the basics of this program demonstrate,” said Jeff Austin III, Vice Chairman of the Board.

“We would like to thank our schools and their teachers for allowing students to participate in the ‘Teach Kids to Save’ program.  Their efforts in the classroom are key to developing financial literacy among the youth of East Texas,” said Austin.

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