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10/01/2010 Visa
Visa
WHAT WE DO:
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, banks, and government in more than 170 countries, enabling them to use digital currency instead of cash and checks. Visa believes the most important financial tool is not a product—it is knowledge. That is why for over a decade Visa has been developing financial literacy programs that teach individuals how to spend, save, and budget responsibly.
WHAT WE OFFER:
To help students—from preschoolers and elementary school students, to teens and college students—learn the essentials of personal finance, Visa’s Practical Money Skills for Life reaches millions around the globe. The program Web sites receive 75,000 unique visitors and one million page views each month. At www.practicalmoneyskills.com (available in English and Spanish), educators, parents and students can access free educational resources including:
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- useful personal finance information on a variety of topics
- lesson plans and games
- calculators
- research
- a monthly newsletter with almost 65,000 subscribers
As part of the Practical Money Skills for Life program, Visa has created an NFL-themed video game to get young people engaged and excited about their financial futures. Financial Football (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/football) is a computer-based game accompanied by a classroom curriculum. The content includes lessons taught through Practical Money Skills for Life and since 2006, Visa has reached agreements with 27 states to distribute Financial Football to every high school in those states. Visa has also teamed up with the NFL and NFL PLAYERS to promote financial literacy in high schools nationwide by bringing NFL players into the classroom to play Financial Football with students.
Building on the success of Financial Football, Financial Soccer (www.financialsoccer.com) harnesses the popularity of the world’s most popular sport with a fast-paced, FIFA World Cup-themed, educational, computer-based video game. Financial Soccer is available in 10 languages and has been rolled out in over 30 countries. The game entertains while it teaches the fundamentals of finance.
Visa also runs What’s My Score (www.whatsmyscore.org), a leading higher education consumer awareness program. The Web site guides college students through the ABC’s of a FICO credit score, from factors that can lower a score to ways on improving it, at no charge.
WHAT’S NEW:
Visa has enjoyed great success with Financial Football and has recently reinvented the game. Joining with Super Bowl XLIV MVP and New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees, Financial Football was recreated and is available in English or Spanish. Visa also released the game as a free iPhone app on iTunes, along with an optimized HD iPad version.
Visa has partnered with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to make Financial Soccer a part of their Ready to Lead program, a national leadership program for Hispanic youth. Several events involving Members of Congress across the country are on the 2010-2011 calendar.
WHAT WE NEED:
With a variety of free materials, Visa’s financial education programs are easily accessible. The challenge however, is making relevant audiences aware that these materials are available and that those individuals should take advantage of this valuable information. Visa is always looking to develop relationships with consumer-focused organizations who, like Visa, are committed to improving financial literacy broadly.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jason Alderman
Senior Director of Financial Education
Visa Inc.
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A special Web page has been set up for partners to easily utilize and integrate Visa’s content into their own activities at: www.practicalmoneyskills.com/orders. For general information on Visa Inc., visit www.visa.com.
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