“TEACH CHILDREN TO SAVE” PROGRAM AWARDS SAVINGS BONDS TO LONGVIEW ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
November, 2007

Austin Bank has chosen eight student winners from Timpson and Gary schools districts ISD 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.

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.

The $50 savings bond winners were:

Timpson Elementary School:
Sadie Ramsey, Kindergarten; Sara Duke, First Grade; Kylie Powdrill, Second Grade; and Molly Sanford, Third Grade.

Gary Elementary School:
Cara Coligan, Third Grade; Reagan Ridgway, Second Grade; Stormy Burran, First Grade; and Kelly Pape, Kindergarten.

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 1,073 copies of the books “Bunny Money” by Rosemary Wells and “Dollars and Sense” by Stan and Jan Berenstain to 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 including 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 area schools and their teachers for allowing students to participate in the ‘Teach Kids to Save’ program.  Their efforts in the classroom are essential to developing financial literacy among the youth of East Texas,” said Austin.

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