Explorations V Children’s Museum, located a 109 North Kentucky Avenue in Downtown Lakeland will host a pilot program, “Biggest $aver-Exploring Family Finances,” funded by the United Way of Central Florida. Biggest $aver is a collaborative effort between Explorations V Children’s Museum, Spectrum Resources and TD Bank that will focus on improving family financial literacy through credit counseling, budgeting and savings plan sessions for the adults, hands-on financial activities for the children as well as weekly challenges and incentives for families to utilize practical financial tips in order to measurably improve family financial knowledge.

Thirty Polk County families will be selected based on specified guidelines and will attend six sessions at Explorations V over a three month period. The first session will be held on Saturday, September 11 from 10am to 12 noon.

• Families with children age 5 & under, below 250% of federal poverty levels will improve their financial literacy, income/employability, credit scores and/or savings
• 20% of Polk County families with children under age 5 live in poverty
• “Biggest $aver” will address the root cause of poverty by building financial knowledge in children and adults
• Pre/post evaluation including credit scores and incentives
• Children exposed to a customized, early financial awareness program designed to introduce responsible behaviors will be impacted for years
• Successful graduation will result in a savings match of up to $150 for the families

” The ‘Biggest $aver-Exploring Family Finances’ pilot program intends to measurably improve families’ financial literacy knowledge within the safe, non-judgmental, fun-filled environment of the Children’s Museum. And, every scholarship family receives a free Explorations V Children’s Museum membership for the year,” stated Georgann Carlton, museum CEO.

Interested families are encouraged to contact the museum at (863) 687-3869 or email info@explorationsv.com for additional information.

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