News

05.24.2011 - Centier Sponsors Reality Store

The United States Federal Courthouse in Hammond (5400 Federal Plaza) hosted a “Reality Store” workshop in partnership with Centier Bank, the School City of Hammond, Hammond Hispanic Community Committee and Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce on May 18, 2011. The event itself took place in the courthouse atrium, and individual booths were “manned” by the partners and volunteers from the city, to make each stop more realistic for the students from Eggers Middle School in Hammond.

The goal of the program was to help students learn fundamental skills in finance and career planning, goal setting, and decision-making. They visited the Reality Store booths and role-played real life situations that engaged them in spending their earnings on the necessities, luxuries and emergencies of an adult lifestyle. At the conclusion of those exercises, the students enjoyed a hot dog meal in The Jury Box Cafeteria and then were treated to a wrap up session in Judge Moody’s courtroom.

Art Russell, Centier VP and Director of Community Lending, felt that “It was a wonderful experience to engage the students with household finances that typically are their parents’ responsibilities. The opportunity to role-play adult occupations, receive income and pay bills to creditors (played by our community volunteers) really gave them a genuine view of real life, and what they can expect in the later years of their own lives.” Nancy Machnikowski, School City of Hammond Director of Partners in Education, stated “I think many of the students were surprised to see how quickly their money was gone, and found out they needed to rethink some of their purchases.”

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