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Earning, saving, spending ... 

  Making decisions ...

          Analyzing costs and benefits ...

                  Starting out on your own ...
 

Learn More About Money Smart Week at www.moneysmartweek.org!

Check out the Get Real – On the Money Essay Contest!

Get Real Contest Form

Economic and financial education can empower individuals and students to make a difference in their own lives.

 

Get Real is a financial education program that teaches teens how to budget, build their credit record, and save and invest by drawing on the experiences of actual young adults.

Get Real training and curriculum sets will soon be available. The sets include everything a teacher needs to conduct the Get Real program with their students.

A limited number of copies of the Get Real program and training curriculum are available free of charge through a grant from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards*.

Learn about the Get Real program training.

Learn more about how you can benefit from our activities, resources, and programs today!

Sponsors and Partners

Contact us to learn more about volunteering with the EAC.

Información en Español

The EAC had over 5000 event participants in 2007!

The Economic Awareness Council (EAC) provides unique, custom programs and materials for all ages (young kids through adults) covering such topics as finance, economics, banking, checking, saving, credit cards, budgeting, and money. 

*These limited copies are available to organizations serving primarily low to moderate income populations. Contact the EAC for further information or to request the Get Real program.

 

 

Money, Mom and Me Tea

EAC Publications

Recent & Upcoming Events

Upcoming:

Teen Programming:

April 21st, 5:15 to 7pm, On the Money Magazine – Resume Review & Mock Interview Special Event, True Star Magazine, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by Harris Bank - HSBC – North America). Contact info@econcouncil.org for more information.

April 21st, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Austin Polytechnic Institute, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by ABC Bank)

April 18th – 25th, Get Real Essay Contest, Area 25 Small Schools/Farragut High School, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by HSBC – North America)

April 23rd, 4:30pm to 6:30pm, Chicago Youth Saves Conference, Washington Park Refectory, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by HSBC – North America)

May 12th, 5:15 to 7pm, On the Money Magazine – Resume Review & Mock Interview Special Event, Guests Welcome, True Star Magazine, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by Harris Bank - HSBC – North America). Contact info@econcouncil.org for more information.

May 28th, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Riverside Brookfield High School, Riverside, IL (Sponsored by Riverside Bank).

July 20th, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Chicago Public Library, Garfield Ridge, 6:30-8:00 pm, 6348 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL, Open to the Public, Contact info@econcouncil.org for more information.

Aug 12th, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Chicago Public Library, Whitney Young, 4:30 to 6:30 pm, 7901 S. King Dr., Garfield Ridge, Chicago, IL, Open to the Public, Contact info@econcouncil.org for more information.

Youth Programming:

April 18th – 25th, 10am to 1pm; (11am to 2pm Sun) Going Green & Getting Going, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL, Booth Event Open to the Public (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

April 20th, 23rd & 24th, Going Green & Getting Going Classroom Event, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL, Private (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

April 22nd, Your Design Dollar, Hanson Park School, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by HSBC – North America)

April 25th, 2pm to 4pm, Your Design Dollar, Hinsdale Public Library, Hinsdale, IL, Open to the Public (Sponsored by Hinsdale Bank & Trust)

April, A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned, Chicago Parent Magazine – www.chicagoparent.com (Sponsored by HSBC – North America)

April 23rd, Keep It Safe, The Hinsdalean

Adult/Family Programming:

April 25th, 10am to 2pm, Be Money Smart Booth at the Clinic (Resources available in English and Spanish), Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, IL, Open to the Public (Sponsored by MB Financial Bank)

April 18th -  25th, Hope Builders: Saving for a Secure Future  (Resources available in English and Spanish), People’s Resource Center, Wheaton, IL (Sponsored by MB Financial Bank)

April 22nd, Steps to Success: Credit Management & Financial Planning, University of Illinois College of Education, Urbana, IL (Sponsored by Busey Bank)

April 18th, Budget Builder: Budgeting Tool for College Students, www.econcouncil.org   

Recent:

Teen Programming:

Feb 10/March 3, 5:15 to 7pm, On the Money Magazine – Resume Review & Mock Interview Special Event, True Star Magazine, Chicago, IL// (Sponsored by Harris Bank - HSBC – North America) Contact info@econcouncil.org for more information.

February 26th, Chicago Youth Saves Conference, Fosco Park, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by Harris Bank & HSBC – North America)

March, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Hinsdale Central High School/Riverside Brookfield High School, Hinsdale/Riverside, IL (Sponsored by Hinsdale Bank & Trust & Riverside Bank)

Spring 2009, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Farragut High School, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards)

Spring 2009, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Select Area 25 Schools, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards/ HSBC – North America)

Spring 2009, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Service Learning Initiative, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards/ HSBC – North America)

Spring 2009, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Mahalia Jackson, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards/ HSBC – North America)

March 5th, 2009, Students get education about saving, Chicago financial pros encourage teens to avoid pitfalls and prosper, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL

Fall 2008, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Student booklets, training guides and DVDs to be made available for request from youth organizations, teachers and the general public, Request information at info@econcouncil.org.

August 18th, Teens Mean Business Meeting, Youth Communications at Columbia College, Chicago, IL, Open Meeting for Potential Teen Journalists - Contact info@econcouncil.org for more information.

July 15th, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Girl Scouts - Camp Exec, Champaign, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards)

July 11th, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World - Training, Christopher House, Chicago, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards)

July 7th, Get Real: Financial Decisions in the Real World, Christopher House, Chicago, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by the
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards)

Youth Programming:

March, When I Work, Monroe School, Hinsdale, IL

Nov 27th, Girls Learn Benefits of Saving, Careers in Money, Doings, Hinsdale, IL

November 22nd, 1-3pm and 3-5pm, Money, Mom and Me: A Financial Education Tea, Hinsdale Historical Museum and Immanuel Hall, Hinsdale, IL (Sponsored by Midwest Bank and the Hinsdale Historical Society)

July 16th, Keep It Safe, Woodridge Community Resource Center Visit to Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Education Center, Chicago, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by Charter One Bank)

July 14th, Meet and Greet with the Money Smart Kid Finalists, Woodridge Community Resource Center, Woodridge, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by Charter One Bank)

Young Adult:

May 6th, 5:00 – 7:00pm, Saving and Investing: Questions and Answer, ic stars, Chicago, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

May 5th, 5:00 – 7:00pm, Credit: Questions and Answer, ic stars, Chicago, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

April 9th, 5:30pm – 7pm, The EAC On-Campus, University of Illinois College of Education, Urbana, IL, Invitation Only (Sponsored by HSBC – North America & Cline Financial Concepts, LLC)

Adult/Parent Programming:

March 21, Taking Charge with All My Money, Hinsdale Community Service, Memorial Building, Hinsdale, IL (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

November/December, Taking Charge with All My Money, NOW Health Group, Inc., (Sponsored by NOW Health Group)

January, Financial Education Programming (Credit & Saving/Investing), i.c. stars, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

March, Financial Education Programming (Credit & Saving/Investing), i.c. stars, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by Midwest Bank)

February, When I Work/ Shooting Star, Hanson Park School – Family Night, Chicago, IL (Sponsored by Charter One)

September 3rd, Meeting of the DuPage Financial Education Coalition, DuPage Community Foundation Hosts at Metropolitan Youth Services.

August 16th, WICU Chicago, Channel 48, 7:30am, 26 N. Halstead Show, Alejo Torres, EAC Board Member discusses how to get by and get ahead in tough times (second airing).

August 9th, WICU Chicago, Channel 26, 6:30am, 26 N. Halstead Show, Alejo Torres, EAC Board Member discusses how to get by and get ahead in tough times.

© Economic Awareness Council, 2007