HARRISBURG, Pa. – Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today celebrated October as the start of National Financial Planning Month by encouraging all Pennsylvanians to take steps to be money smart and urging state leaders to continue to expand statewide financial literacy resources for the entire Commonwealth.
“Pennsylvania has made great progress when it comes to teaching our individuals about money, and I applaud the bipartisan work that has been done to make financial literacy education a requirement for all high school students,” Auditor General DeFoor said. “More work needs to be done, though, to ensure all Pennsylvanians, regardless of age, have the resources they need to set themselves up for future financial success. It’s never too late to start learning how to be smart with your money, and I’m urging our state leaders to consider expanding the financial literacy resources so that every citizen can benefit.”
Auditor General DeFoor has spent more than three years promoting financial literacy through his ‘Be Money $mart’ initiative, which raises awareness about the need for financial literacy education in Pennsylvania and highlights free resources that people can use on their journey to financial freedom.
Since ‘Be Money $mart’ launched in 2021, DeFoor has:
- Partnered with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Members 1st Federal Credit Union to coordinate a statewide financial literacy competition for high school students;
- Met with teachers and students in high school classrooms across Pennsylvania in recognition of successful financial literacy learning opportunities;
- Visited all state and state related universities in Pennsylvania, as well as community colleges, to talk about job and internship opportunities within the department and the importance of knowing how your money works;
- Moderated financial literacy panels for community organizations, the agriculture industry and local chambers of commerce;
- Partnered with the Pennsylvania Library Association to highlight free financial literacy resources and the PA Forward program;
- Visited YMCAs across the Commonwealth to talk about financial literacy for all ages;
- Worked with Junior Achievement to emphasize financial literacy messages to elementary school students and participated in multiple BizTown simulations; and
- Partnered with CrossState Credit Union Association and other credit unions and financial institutions across the state to promote free financial literacy resources, including hosting ‘Money $mart Mondays’ with PSECU.
“We want to highlight local efforts to promote financial literacy,” Auditor General DeFoor said. “If you are promoting financial literacy in your community, please reach out to us at news@paauditor.gov so we can highlight your work.”
To learn more about our department, our ‘Be Money $mart’ initiative or locate audits affecting your community visit our website.
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Media contact: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1381 or news@paauditor.gov