Organizations, Individuals Recognized for Work to Advance Financial Education
DENVER—At the biennial Financial Education Innovation & Impact (FEI&I) Summit, hosted by the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®), the newest recipients of the NEFE Innovation Award and the NEFE Impact Award were announced. These awards recognize advocates who have contributed to the growth and evolution of financial education and financial well-being. This announcement is a signature part of the FEI&I Summit, an event developed to explore how to effectively drive change for decision makers and build momentum to address the greatest challenges in the sector.
“As a leader in financial education and financial well-being, we take great pride in celebrating the outstanding achievements that drive our field forward. It is our responsibility and privilege to showcase the remarkable work being done as it inspires future efforts in effective financial education. Recognizing the winners of the Innovation Awards and the Impact Awards is one of my favorite parts of our FEI&I Summit. This year’s nominees stood out among many exceptional candidates and are truly deserving of this recognition.”
Billy Hensley, Ph.D., president and CEO of NEFE
NEFE’s Innovation Award was created to recognize organizations and individuals who have exhibited leading-edge work and groundbreaking progress in financial education. Recipients will have moved the field forward in exciting, transformative ways and exemplify originality and a forward-thinking vision. The 2024 recipients of the NEFE Innovation Award are the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership (FEPPP) and the FLY Initiative.
The FEPPP, based in Washington state, was selected for its creative work in training the next generation of students, consumers, employees, entrepreneurs, savers and investors. This educational board was established in 2009 as a creative mechanism to bring public and private stakeholders together to improve and advocate for financial education in schools and communities through teacher training and quality resources.
“This award validates years of hard work building a partnership of financial education advocates. This award validates the meaningful difference we have made in the lives of K-12 educators and students. It also encourages me to continue being innovative and thinking outside of the box to ensure all students have access to financial education, giving them hope for their future and optimistically inspiring others to do the same.”
Tracy Godat, FEPPP executive director
The FLY Initiative, based in Rhode Island, was selected for its dedication to empowering underserved and underrepresented youth with culturally responsive financial education and global experiences to end generational poverty. The organization has developed programming that is grounded in the value of experiential learning and real-world experiences in order to provide access to financial literacy resources regardless of race, ethnicity or socio-economic background.
“Receiving the NEFE Innovation Award is an incredible honor, and I am deeply humbled to be recognized for work that is so close to my heart. Financial education has the power to change lives, and the greatest reward is seeing the hope it brings to individuals and communities. This acknowledgment by NEFE is a testament to the impact we are making, and I am beyond grateful to be living in my purpose, helping others build a brighter, more empowered future.”
Marcy Reyes, MSF, AFC®, The FLY Initiative’s founder and CEO
NEFE’s Impact Award was created to recognize organizations and individuals who have sought meaningful change, significant achievement and measurable impact in financial education. Recipients will have a body of work that is foundational for the field of financial education by contributing to its momentum, shaping best practices and advancing financial well-being. The 2024 winners are John Pelletier and Dr. Julie Heath.
Pelletier oversees the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College. Since 2010, he has propelled the organization to be one of the top voices in the national conversation around financial literacy, primarily through trusted research and advocacy.
“Although this award recognizes our Center's work in financial literacy, it is ultimately honoring the efforts of thousands of individuals. This award recognizes all of the hard grassroots advocacy work done by so many in our communities across our nation: teachers, parents, students, principals, school board members, nonprofits, the financial service industry, legislators and other policymakers. This award recognizes the fact that due to our collective efforts, 57% of all public high school students in the class of 2031 will have taken a half-year course in personal finance prior to graduation,” Pelletier says.
Heath is director emerita leading the Alpaugh Family Economic Center at the University of Cincinnati. Throughout her career championing financial education, which spans more than four decades, she has initiated and developed programs in Tennessee and Ohio. She has led teacher trainings, partnerships, research and student programs such as the $mart Tennessee Program, providing thousands of children with financial education in elementary, middle and high schools.
“Being recognized for contributing to the imperative that is financial education is always an honor, but when that award comes from an organization such as NEFE, it is especially meaningful. NEFE is the most respected organization in this space, providing leadership, context and courage in how we think about and address financial education. NEFE has always been my north star in terms of integrity and dedication to the cause, and I am very grateful for this recognition from such an iconic organization,” Heath says.
This is the second FEI&I Summit, a biennial event NEFE hosts that allows the financial education field to come together and examine what is working well and what needs to be done differently. In 2022, the inaugural recipients of the NEFE Innovation Award were Knology and the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance. The first winners of the NEFE Impact Award were the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center and Theodore “Ted” R. Daniels, founder and president of the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development, Inc.
“The FEI&I Summit aims to build momentum to address the greatest challenges in delivering effective and equitable financial education. It is a great example of growth and evolution, with roots firmly grounded in our unique positioning as an organization that can bring together leaders and advocates in pursuit of a common goal,” Hensley continues.
