A Banner Year for Financial Reality Fairs

By Sue Ward-Diorio, Executive Director, CrossState Credit Union Foundation

“Financial literacy in schools is a top priority for the local credit unions. We take our responsibility to heart when it comes to educating the students in order for them to become the leaders of the future. With everything happening in the world today, the cost of housing, food and the basic necessities, we need to prepare them for real-life and this simulation does offer a lot of the real-life situations and decisions that need to be made.”

– Greg Sisitki, CEO, USSCO Federal Credit Union

When it comes to setting up younger generations for a strong future, financial education is key. One approach that has proven to be powerful is holding a Financial Reality Fair—a hands-on budgeting experience for students to gain practical knowledge about personal finance in the “real world.”

In 2025, CrossState Credit Union Association member credit unions across New Jersey and Pennsylvania held a total of 90 Fairs, reaching more than 17,300 students with the help of over 2,000 volunteers. That trend looks to continue this year, with 20 Fairs occurring already. These events are taking place in high schools, technical schools, and colleges and have been expanding to nonprofits, government agencies, correctional institutions, and more.

What makes Financial Reality Fairs so popular and effective is how they give students the opportunity to walk around, meet adults who offer informative tips, and work with their peers to understand finances. For instance, some groups at previous Fairs thought to become roommates, and one boy who finished his budget early even walked around to help others. Further, students and teachers comment about how the structure of Fairs lets participants interact with each other rather than using their phones, which is a nice change of pace for them.

This success is attributed to the unique partnerships being created among credit unions and with nonprofits and government agencies. Many of them are formed thanks to the 80 credit union employees who are members of the CrossState Credit Union Foundation’s Financial Education Collaborative. They meet quarterly to oversee the annual update of the Fair kits, share vital information, and suggest new materials. This year, a financial tips sheet was also created for students and teachers and additional talking points were created for volunteers.

If your credit union hasn’t yet participated in a Financial Reality Fair, make it a must for 2026! Whether you hold your own, partner with another credit union, or volunteer at an upcoming one near you, it is a wonderful way to teach young people financial basics and help get them excited for their futures.

Originally published in the April 2026 edition of CU Edge