ST. PAUL, Minn.– Hiway Credit Union has won the 2023 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award and the 2023 Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award.
Hiway received the Dora Maxwell Community Service Award for their Black Police Officers Association – Backpacks and Barbers event.
Hiway said it conducted an internal school supply and toiletries drive, followed by a community center open house for families in need. The event provided children with backpacks filled with school supplies, a haircut from a local barber, and fun family activities, all just in time to get everyone looking good and ready for a new school year.
Additionally, Hiway’s ongoing youth financial well-being partnership with St. Paul Schools was awarded the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award. In addition to being a regular presenter in the St. Paul Schools and hosting a Teacher Externship at Hiway offices, the St. Paul-based credit union conducts educational reality fairs using a mobile app, entitled Reality Bites.
The app gives each student a unique profile, including family status (married, single, kids, no kids), a job/income, and a credit score. The students then visit nine stations to make purchase decisions around their home, auto, groceries, utilities, transportation, and other necessities. Along their “road of life,” the students encounter unexpected situations, some positive and some negative, and they need to react. At the end, each student needs to come in within their budget or turn back and make some new choices. The Reality Fair creates lots of interaction and lots of conversations around needs, wants, lifestyle and budgeting.
“We have a dedicated team here at Hiway who is committed to creating positive outcomes - particularly for the youth in our communities,” said Dave Boden, Hiway president/CEO. “Our relationship with the St. Paul Schools and with the SPPD has gotten stronger each year. We’re proud of the work that we have done, and we are committed to continuing to partner with these critical organizations for the greater good. We deeply appreciate the network’s recognition of these efforts.”