By: Marketing

Marketing @ 3:39 pm

Congratulations to Great Oaks Academy–their amazing come-from-behind performance won a Radio Disney assembly from Michigan First Credit Union!

Great Oaks beat 23 other elementary and middle schools containing in-house Michigan First branches, opening the most student accounts between November 2 and December 12. But things didn’t start out easy. Their student branch, new this year, opened on the final day of the contest! But the Great Oaks staff was determined to make the impossible possible. They promoted the contest weeks before the grand opening, and let the students know everything they needed to open their own bank account on December 12. By day’s end, Great Oaks had opened a whopping 56 accounts, taking over first place and winning the Radio Disney assembly!

Yet even with Great Oaks’ victory, every school was a winner; their students are using our in-school branches to learn good savings habits, how to perform bank transactions, and other tips. So join us in giving a hand to all our participating schools and students for a job well done!

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By: Marketing

Marketing @ 12:08 pm

Michigan First Credit Union awarded $1,000 scholarships to 82 graduating high school seniors during its annual student scholarship reception on June 24.  The scholarship program honors college-bound high school seniors who are members of Michigan First and attending one of the participating high schools within our 44 served communities.

In the past seven years, we’ve been proud to have awarded over $400,000 in scholarships!

For more information on how to enroll your kids in our MichiganFirst@School, MoneyKids or MoneyTeens programs or to get a head start on financial education with your little ones, check out www.MichiganFirstKids.com

Scholarship recipient Anum Chandhry is featured in the photo above (center), along with Nadine Tibbs-Stallworth, Board Member (left) and Michael Poulos, President and CEO of Michigan First (right).

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By: Tonja

Tonja @ 9:10 am

On Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Michigan First Credit Union and AM 910 Radio Disney< are teaming up to bring to the Southfield/Lathrup Village area ‘Party in the Park,’ the summertime event destination for Southeast Michigan families.  The FREE party, held at Southfield-Lathrup High School will feature a Radio Disney stage show with music and prizes, rides and slides for kids of all ages to enjoy, a drawing for four tickets to a Jonas Brothers concert and a Nintendo® Wii giveaway.*

The first 500 people age 14 and under who are Michigan First MoneyKids® or MoneyTeens® members at the party will also get a free t-shirt.  To register for the event and be automatically entered in the Nintendo® Wii giveaway, or for more information, go to www.MichiganFirstKids.com or call 800-664-3828. To sign up for the MoneyKids® or MoneyTeens® programs to take advantage of the t-shirt giveaway at the party, go to www.MichiganFirst.com.   

Hope to see you there!

*Advance registration is required to be eligible for the Nintendo® Wii giveaway drawing. Winners must be present to receive all prizes and some restrictions apply. Visit www.MichiganFirstKids.com for additional details.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 11:56 am

Michigan First Continues to Promote Financial Literacy with Opening of Four New Student Branches in Metro Detroit
Leading credit Union continuing its commitment to the youth and the community

Michigan First Credit Union (www.michiganfirst.com) is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest student branches in Glenn Schoenhals Elementary School in Southfield, Michigan and a second branch at University Preparatory Academy-Murray Campus in Detroit.The two branches are the first of four branches scheduled to open through Michigan First’s school
branch program, MichiganFirst@School, by early November, adding to the roster of 13 existing student branches.

Other school branches scheduled to open include Eisenhower Elementary in Southfield on Monday,Nov. 3 and in South Lake High School in St. Clair Shores, Mich. on Thursday, Nov. 6. “At Michigan First we believe that we have a responsibility to help the community in the battle against financial illiteracy that impacts people of all ages,” said Michael Poulos, president and CEO of Michigan First Credit Union. “Helping children learn about personal finances at a young age is the key to
developing financially responsible adults.”

Through MichiganFirst@School, students at the elementary or middle school level are able to run the branches through various positions including branch managers, assistant managers, tellers, computer operations, bookkeepers and greeters. Those working in the credit unions wear Michigan First logo shirts provided by the credit union. Michigan First staff is on-hand to monitor transactions. Students are allowed to only make deposits in savings accounts in an effort to encourage saving money.
At the high school level, students become actual employees of Michigan First and are paid hourly for their work in the credit union. The high school branches are open to students, teachers and other staff members. Currently Michigan First has high school branches located within Southfield High School and Southfield Lathrup High School.

At the end of each school year, students who worked in the branches are honored by Michigan First with a pancake breakfast and awards ceremony to recognize the students’ accomplishments and to congratulate them on the money they deposited into their savings accounts during the school year. Schools who opened the most accounts and who deposited the most money receive special recognition. Additionally, Michigan First Credit Union began piloting a program at Southfield University High School
Academy this fall to implement its wealth of financial knowledge directly into the classroom. Through a partnership with The National Endowment for Financial Educations (NEFE), Michigan First will be teaching monthly classes at Southfield University High School Academy to enable students to:

Design a personal saving and investing plan
Create a strategy for handling credit and managing their debt
Use various financial services
Create a personal insurance plan
evelop and stick to a budget

This community-based outreach is also being addressed within the state government: A bill was recently passed by the Michigan House and Senate—which has now been put before Governor Granholm to review before 2009—which would allow high school students the option to exchange traditional math for a financial literacy class to meet graduation requirements.

Michigan First began establishing the student-run branches in 2001 as part of its ongoing effort to increase financial literacy among children and teens. In addition to student-run branches, Michigan First also advocates financial literacy through its MoneyKids (ages 0-12) and MoneyTeen (ages 13-17) programs that are designed to encourage children and teens to save money and instill financial responsibility that grows with them.

As members of student-run branches, students are automatically enrolled as members to continue banking into adulthood at any Michigan First location. Research has shown that students who have bank accounts early on have significantly greater financial understanding as they reach adulthood, according to a study from the University of Buffalo School of Management on 12th graders’ aptitude and knowledge of personal financial basics.

For a full list of participating schools or to learn more about Michigan First student branches, please visit
www.michiganfirst.com

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By: Lauren

Lauren @ 4:12 pm

July 16, 2008 Lathrup Village, MI. Michigan First Credit Union recently helped seven Southfield elementary and middle schools celebrate their achievements in operating their student branches, with a pancake breakfast and awards ceremony.

The program is held annually at the end of the school year to recognize the students’ accomplishments and to congratulate them on the money they deposited into their savings accounts through the program. It is also a time to recognize the school that opened the most new accounts and had the most deposit dollars.

This year, Stevenson Elementary School won the award for the most new accounts opened as well as the most in deposit dollars, as they recruited 54 new accounts and collected over $16,000 in student deposits. Overall, the seven schools generated over $39,000 in student deposits with an additional $2,500 from the 160 new accounts that were opened.

Prior to the breakfast and awards ceremony, students were challenged to memorize the Mission, Vision and Core Value Statement of the Credit Union. This year’s challenge winner was Jennifer Wardell of Leonhard Elementary, who recited the statement in front of all the attendees. Jennifer was presented with a Beanie Baby and gift card.

After the breakfast, students received a tour of the offices in the Michigan First headquarters.

Students participating in the program hold various positions including Branch Managers, Assistant Managers, Tellers, Computer Operators, Bookkeepers and Greeters. This year, over 140 students applied for these positions. On school banking days, which are supervised by Michigan First employees, students wear Michigan First logo shirts and name badges.

The schools and principals participating in the Credit Union’s student-run branch program include Alder Elementary, Janet Jones, Principal; Birney Middle School, Sterling Russell, Principal; Brace-Lederle K-8 School, Andrea Hamlar, Principal; Laurus Academy, Raul Calderon, Principal; Leonhard Elementary, Vicki Perry, Principal; McIntyre Elementary, Greg Kubasiewicz, Principal; and Stevenson Elementary, Dr. B. K. Hentrel, Principal.

Since the Michigan First Student Branch Program began in 2001, it has had great success. Michael Poulos, President/CEO of Michigan First states, “The success of the program is due to building solid educational partnerships and assisting schools in our field of membership with educating young people about the benefits of credit union membership and how to save and manage money.”

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By: Lena

Lena @ 5:52 pm

Michigan First awarded recently students from 83 high schools in the metro Detroit area with one-time, non-renewable $1,000 scholarships. The schools are located within the 44 communities served by the Credit Union. Scholarship recipients were chosen by each high school’s scholarship selection committee or designee, and based on the student’s academic achievements, community involvement, special talents, leadership and civic and social responsibility. Scholarships awarded are applied to the student’s first year of college. During the past six years, Michigan First has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships.

Pictured is Mr. Michael Poulos (President and CEO of Michigan First) and the scholarship recipients.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 1:20 pm

Michigan First Credit Union sponsored the Scholar’s Lecture and Spelling Bee at the Ford
Freedom Awards, an annual fundraiser for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American
History. Pictured below are Michael Poulos, President/CEO of Michigan First Credit Union; Keke
Palmer, star of the film “Akeelah and the Bee”; and Rob Bettie, the Community Relations
Specialist with State Farm Insurance.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 8:52 am

Michigan First Credit Union honored students from 11 elementary and middle schools, celebrating their achievements in successfully running a Michigan First Credit Union student branch within their schools. Students who work in the credit unions were honored with a pancake breakfast and awards ceremony on May 29 at Michigan First’s main branch in Lathrup Village.

Special recognition was granted to the schools that had the most money deposited into savings accounts through the program and the school that opened the most new accounts.

This year, MacArthur K-8 University Academy took home the prize for the most new accounts opened, a total of 110 opened this year alone. MacArthur K-8 University Academy  also received the award for having the most in deposit dollars, collecting more than $22,000.00 in student deposits.

The schools participating in the student-run Michigan First branches include: University Prep in Detroit; and from Southfield, Mich. – Leonhard Elementary, McIntyre Elementary, Brace Ledere School, Stevenson Elementary, Adler Elementary, Birney Middle School, Laurus Academy, MacArthur K-8 University Academy, Levey Middle School and Crescent Academy.

Michigan First established the student-run branches in 2001 as part of its ongoing effort to increase financial literacy among children and teens. Students at the elementary and middle school student-run credit union branch are able to run the branches through various positions including branch managers, assistant managers, tellers, computer operators, bookkeepers and greeters. The students wear Michigan First logo shirts provided by the credit union. Michigan First staff is on-hand to monitor transactions as students make deposits. Students are allowed to only make deposits in savings accounts in an effort to encourage saving money.

In addition to student-run branches, Michigan First also advocates financial literacy through its MoneyKids (ages 0-12) and MoneyTeen (ages 13-17) programs that are designed to encourage children and teens to save money and instill financial responsibility that grows with them.

Michigan First plans on opening an additional 10 student branches by the end of 2008.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 8:37 am

Nine talented Detroit students have been selected as winners in the first Good Schools Poetry Contest presented by The Skillman Foundation and Good Schools Resource Center at Marygrove College and sponsored by Michigan First Credit Union.

The competition is part of The Skillman Foundation’s seven-year, multi-million dollar education initiative, Good Schools: Making the Grade, which identifies nine indicators of student and school success and invites all Detroit schools to apply for funding and technical assistance to maintain or attain these standards.   The poetry contest was open to K-12 students attending any of the 145 public, charter, private or parochial schools in Detroit that have been named Good Schools during the first three years of the initiative. The topic was: “Why my School is a Good School.” More than 1,000 entries were submitted. 

First, second and third place winners were chosen in each of three grade levels — elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12). The winning students and their prizes are:

1)      ELEMENTARY: ·        

1st Place ($300 Gift Card) – Bryce Stallworth, 4th Grade, Bates Academy

 2nd Place($200 Gift Card) – Erica Cannon, 5th Grade, YMCA Service Learning Academy 

  3rd Place ($100 Gift Card) – Brandon Hull, 1st Grade, Charles H. Wright Academy 

2)      MIDDLE: 

1st Place ($500 Gift Card) – Najah Johnson, 7th Grade, Gesu Catholic School 

2nd Place ($300 Gift Card) – J′La Williams, 8th Grade, Golightly Educational Center 

3rd Place ($150 Gift Card) – Shabaka DaaJa-Ra, 7th Grade, Gesu Catholic School

3)      HIGH SCHOOL: 

1st Place ($750 Gift Card) – Michael Varano, 12th Grade, Renaissance High School 

2nd Place ($500 Gift Card) – Phillip Hall, 12th Grade, Communication & Media Arts 

3rd Place ($300 Gift Card) – Margaret Clements, 12th Grade, Renaissance High School

The student poetry winners received their prizes at a Good Schools Celebration of Excellence event on May 27th at Chene Park in Detroit. Marygrove College English faculty judged the students’ poems on creativity, originality, content, title appropriateness, style and mechanics, use of language, and voice authenticity. “We were extremely pleased with the response we received in the poetry contest. It demonstrates the creativity of children in Detroit schools and gives them a voice in what makes a Good School,” said Tonya Allen, vice president of program for The Skillman Foundation.  Michigan First Credit Union presented gift cards and award certificates to the poetry contest winners and plaques to the winning students’ schools. “This is our second year sponsoring a Good Schools: Making the Grade contest, and we’re very proud to be a part of this important initiative,” said Michigan First President & CEO Michael D. Poulos. “Michigan First has always been committed to the education and development of Detroit youth.”

The Skillman Foundation’s Good Schools: Making the Grade initiative identifies, recognizes and rewards Good Schools in Detroit. During the first three years of the initiative, The Skillman Foundation awarded more than $5.5 million in Good Schools grants to nearly 150 Detroit schools. The winning schools are recognized in four categories — High Performing, Improving, Emerging and Aspiring — and evaluated on nine standards: Student Academic Performance; Student Attendance; Leadership and Educational Vitality; Data-Driven Decision Making; Challenging Curriculum and Instruction; Student Focus and Support; School Culture; Professional Community; and School, Family and Community Partnerships.   

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By: Lena

Lena @ 3:18 pm

The Martin Luther King (MLK) Senior High School Marching Crusaders has officially raised the $380,000 they needed to travel to Beijing, China to play during the 2008 Summer Olympics. In early March, Michigan First and its Board of Directors jumpstarted, a community wide effort to help the school raise money for the trip, by making a $10,000 donation to the band and its director, Victoria Miller. The Credit Union also set up a fund for the band so donations could be made at any Michigan First branch.
In addition to Michigan First’s donation, other large donations were made by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the UAW, The Skillman Foundation, The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Kresge Foundation, The Detroit Lions, and GMAC, just to name a few. Donations were also made by church groups, individuals, block clubs, small and large businesses, and schools. And now, one of the best high school bands in the United States will get a chance to show the world how good they are when they play at the Olympics in August.

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Edwin Mulitalo (3rd from left) gave the band’s fundraising efforts a big boost with a $10,000 donation from his “Big Ed’s Band Foundation” which supports the development of music programs for children. Also on hand to present the check were (left to right) To’alima, Mulitalo’s daughter; Sandra Tomlin, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations, Michigan First; three MLK student band members; Victoria Miller, band director; and Detroit Lion Jonathan Scott. After the check presentation, Mulitalo played his ukulele while his daughter To’alima performed a special dance for the band.

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