Celebrate Financial Education with the CrossState Foundation
While CrossState Connect Annual Convention is known for offering impactful networking and education opportunities for our credit union members, it’s just as special an event for the CrossState Credit Union Foundation.
The Foundation is driven by a collaborative mission—to support financial education and professional development, strengthening the capacity of credit unions to better assist their members. At Connect, we have a chance to bring that mission to life in several ways. It’s all about connecting with and celebrating the professionals across New Jersey and Pennsylvania who make the “people helping people” philosophy possible.
Well-Deserved Awards
One of the Foundation’s most anticipated gatherings is our annual Leaders in Financial Literacy Luncheon—a time for recognizing the exceptional financial education programs and initiatives run by our credit unions.
Each year, we open submissions for the Leaders in Financial Literacy Awards to hear about the innovative approaches you’ve taken to support your communities. From the pool of applicants, a committee of Foundation Boad members review the details and impact and choose five winners.
Submissions are currently open for the 2026 awards, and we invite all who promoted financial education last year to apply! We also have a special Collaboration category to recognize those working united toward this mission. Representatives from winning credit unions will be honored during the luncheon on May 20 at 12 p.m. and invited on stage to receive a $2,500 grant and an award to proudly display.
Learn From Past Leaders
Sometimes, the best inspiration we can find is from those who’ve walked before us. That’s why we’re inviting the Leaders in Financial Literacy Award winners from 2025 back to Connect to participate in a dedicated workshop! During this session, the winners will have an opportunity to talk about their programs, highlight best practices, and answer questions from the audience, hopefully sparking new ideas for innovation in financial education.
Come join us to hear about different ways credit unions have impacted their communities, including:
- Fraud education initiatives
- Youth programs
- Student branch and ambassador programs
- Community initiatives to expand financial inclusion and empowerment
It’s always a great conversation!
A Grand Gathering
A vital part of any conference is dedicated spaces to network, and this year, the Foundation will be holding a reception specifically for our financial educators. Whether you’re a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) or involved in Financial Reality Fairs, this is the perfect moment to connect with like-minded professionals and share your tips and experiences in a fun and casual setting.
The reception will be held at the end of the first day, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. We hope attendees depart feeling good about the work that they do and excited about new ideas to implement when they go back home!
Make Your Reservation!
The clock is ticking on our Early Bird pricing, so register by February 2 to take advantage of the discount. And make sure to sign up for the Luncheon for an additional $100 to unlock a memorable meal of celebration and financial literacy. We look forward to cheering all the good we accomplished in 2025!
Read the CU Connect Blog
Dive into all the details of Connect 2026 with our blog series written by CrossState staff! Check out the topics we’ve already explored, and stay tuned for new posts throughout the coming weeks.