Union College News Release 10-21-05: Union College Receives Funding for Econ for Kids Club

Union College Receives Funding for Econ for Kids Club

Union College has, once again, received funding for the Econ for Kids Club. Now into the third year of providing supplemental teaching material, teacher training and support for economics education to participating classrooms, Union’s Econ for Kids Club has proven to be more successful than ever envisioned, according to Dr. Ella Hensley, director of economic education at Union College. Currently the program serves 50 teachers and over 600 students from classrooms in five different counties.

On October 11, 2005, National City announced that the company is providing a $25,300 grant for economic education through the Kentucky Council on Economic Education (KCEE), the statewide clearinghouse for economics classroom materials, teacher training and student programs to fund the program.

Locally, the Econ for Kids Club is coordinated by Dr. Ella Hensley, center director for the Union College Center for Economic Education and by Janet Ratliff, center director for the Morehead State University Center for Economic Education. Students in Laurel, Clay, Bell, Knox, Whitley and Boyd Counties will receive a jumpstart on economic education through Econ for Kids. Mentors from National City will assist with club meetings and activities.

“National City recognizes that its success depends on the prosperity and development of the communities within its service area, said Jessica Luetzow, assistant vice president, community relations. “National City Bank supports organizations that enhance educational, economic and cultural priorities of communities where its clients and employees live, learn and work.”

Econ for Kids Clubs is an extension activity to encourage thoughtful choice-making, using money wisely, involvement in community and appreciation for entrepreneurship in young people. In 2005 more than 1,000 students contributed to their “club” scrapbook to chronicle activities, economic knowledge and personal growth in Laurel, Bell, Clay, Knox and Whitley Counties. Fifth grade club members carried National City Econ for Kids Club cards to promote membership and recognition. Classrooms and schools proudly displayed banners acknowledging partnership with National City and the Kentucky Council on Economic Education. National City is renewing funding to sustain established “clubs” in addition to expanded funding to replicate the successful model and launch this unique program in an additional community, Ashland, Kentucky.

“The Econ for Kids Club program was created with at-risk children in mind to provide an engaging opportunity that would positively impact the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and disenfranchisement in rural areas of southeastern Kentucky,” said Jan Mester, KCEE president. “Through expansion of the program, KCEE hopes to reach as many students as possible with a real-life demonstration of the impact of financial literacy, while engaging NCB professionals as role models and mentors for students, teachers and parents.”

For more information about Econ for Kids, contact Dr. Ella Hensley at 606-546-1323.

About National City

National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the nation's largest financial holding companies. The company operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance and asset management. For more information about National City, visit the company's Web site at NationalCity.com.

About the Kentucky Council on Economic Education (KCEE)

The Kentucky Council on Economic Education, a 501 © (3) nonprofit, is an affiliate member of the National Council on Economic Education, a nationwide network that leads in promoting economic literacy with students and their teachers. KCEE's mission is to help students develop the real-life skills they need to succeed: to be able to think and choose responsibly as consumers, savers, investors, citizens, members of the workforce, and effective participants in a global economy. During its thirty-year history as the leader in economic education in Kentucky, KCEE-engaged economic educators have ensured the delivery of economics and financial literacy to more than one million Kentucky students. KCEE is the only organization in Kentucky that promotes economic literacy by engaging teachers to teach the fourth “R” – real life economics. For more information about KCEE programs and services, visit www.econ.org or call Jan Mester, President, at 1-800 – I – DO - ECON.