L to R: Brandon Richardson, KCCU; Nicky Lopez, Royals; Andre Sigler Jr., YMCA; Mark Hulet, YMCA.
Recently Kansas City Credit Union and Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez announced the launch of “Catch Success” an educational enrichment program designed to enhance the financial literacy of Kansas City’s youth. The program is being presented in conjunction with the YMCA of Greater Kansas as part of Launch Pad, a 12-week summer youth activity program, held daily at the Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter Community Center.
On Friday, June 3rd, 2022 a media event was held at the Linwood YMCA to inform the press about Catch Success. Present were Kansas City Credit Union Vice President Brandon Richardson, Lopez, several YMCA staff including Andre Sigler Jr., Associate Executive Director of the Linwood Y, Mark Hulet, YMCA Chief Operating Officer, and several children that are part for the Launch Pad program at the Linwood Y.
“Catch Success” is part of the YMCA’s 12-week Launch Pad program, in which students in grades 6 through 12 spend their summer in an environment of academic support, enrichment and recreational activities. As part of 5-day-a-week enrichment activities, KCCU staff members will visit the Linwood Y weekly and interactively teach the kids about managing money and professionalism. Through the program kids will learn how to budget their money for both short and long-term purchases, how interest is accrued by saving over time, how to plan for future financial success and much more. Nicky Lopez will join the weekly program several times, working with the kids to help them get excited about financial success – and he might even bring along a friend or two to share more than just how to hit financial goals out of the park!
Kansas City Credit Union and Nicky Lopez officially launched the program with a $10,000 donation to the Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter Community Center. And even better, for every 200 new member accounts opened at Kansas City Credit Union this summer, Lopez and Kansas City Credit Union will donate an additional $10,000 – up to an expected total of $50,000 for Launch Pad and other enrichment programs at the Linwood Y.
To add even more excitement to this new program, each youth who successfully completes the Catch Success program at the Y will receive a $25 savings account at Kansas City Credit Union – as a head-start toward a lifetime of positive financial experiences.
“The YMCA is both grateful and hopeful about Catch Success,” said Andre Sigler Jr., Associate Executive Director of the Linwood YMCA. “When athletes like Nicky Lopez and organizations like Kansas City Credit Union step up to help influence the future success of young people in Kansas City, we all win. ‘Catch Success’ is not just a name, it is a hands-on part of our weekly Launch Pad programming at the Linwood Y. The KCCU team has worked with the YMCA team to design a program that is both fun and interesting to kids – one that we think will have real results. And the fact that Nicky Lopez has agreed to join us for several sessions is another huge win, the kids will love it!”
Contact the Kansas City Credit Union today to become a member, or to learn more about the Catch Success financial literacy program.
