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IU Northwest to host Money Smart Resource Fair April 28

Money Smart Week commences with press conference April 19 announcing finalists of Money Smart Kid contest

On Saturday, April 28, Indiana University Northwest will host a free Money Smart Resource Fair aimed at teaching people strategies for better money management. Money Smart offers adults sound strategies and advice for stretching their dollars further, avoiding scams and pitfalls, and investing in a more secure financial future.

The free fair at IU Northwest will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the John W. Anderson Library Conference Center (105 ABC) and will include breakout sessions, and a wide array of financial literature and materials, accompanied by giveaways for attendees.

Informative breakout sessions include:

• 10 a.m. - “Hardest Hit Fund,” Chris Eller Esparza, United Way Regional Volunteer Center
• 11 a.m. - “Financial Roads to Accomplish Home Ownership,” Loretta Minor, BMO Financial Group
• 12 p.m. - “Credit Recovery,” Yvette Johnson, First Midwest Bank
• 1 p.m. - “Wise Use of Credit,” Vivian Ramos, Consumer Credit Counseling Service

To kickoff Money Smart Week, the three finalists for the Money Smart Kid contest will be announced at a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, April 19 in the lobby of the IU Northwest School of Business, located in the Dunes Medical Professional Building.  Almost 100 middle school students from Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton counties submitted an essay describing when it is wise to borrow money and when it is not. The top three winning essays will be announced at the press conference.

Representatives tentatively scheduled to appear at the press conference, as well as the Money Smart Resource Fair include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Bank On Northwest Indiana, BMO Harris, Centier Bank, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, First Midwest Bank, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, IU Northwest, Innovation and Research Center for Financial Services, Lake Area United Way, Northwest Indiana Community Action, and the United Way Regional Volunteer Center.

Coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its Money Smart partners, Money Smart Week - Indiana is designed to educate consumers about money management and create awareness of financial education programs on a wide range of topics, such as budgeting, saving and using credit wisely. Other educational activities will be presented throughout Northwest Indiana by local community groups, government agencies, businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations.

No registration is necessary for this free event which is open to all adults over 18 years old. For more information, contact Dian Reyome, Northwest Indiana Money Smart chairperson, at dreyome@centier.com.  Information on all Money Smart presentations throughout Indiana can be found at http://www.moneysmartweek.org/indiana.