Financial Reality Foundation

The Financial Reality Foundation (FRF) was formed in August 2014, by Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit foundation to provide real-life financial literacy programs to consumers of all ages. The programs created and supported by the foundation are at no cost to the consumer, partnering schools, businesses or community members. The Get REAL Financial Reality Fair, provided by the Financial Reality Foundation, is a project designed for high school seniors to experience real-life budgeting in a fun, hands-on way that models what it is like in the real world. A Get REAL Financial Reality Fair provides students with an opportunity to: Explore career paths and consider a job they may desire in the future. Work with an income and learn how to budget. Interact with local business people who lend a touch of reality as they sell to students. Meet with a financial advisor who will bring the focus back to savings and thrift practices. The FRF partners with local credit unions, providing them with a turn-key reality fair package that makes it possible for the credit union to provide an event to their local schools. In a collaborative effort, the FRF and credit unions work with their own staff and community partnerships to provide the event to the students in their own schools, during their school day. The concept of using the community and school resources has been highly successful. It reduces costs and meets students where they are at. It ensures a better turnout and their mindset is receptive to learning. Budgeting is a topic area that is most relevant to high school seniors at this stage of their life, making real-life application foreseeable. By providing the Get REAL Financial Reality Fair program to the schools annually, every student will get their opportunity to participate when they become a senior. It creates an eagerness for lower class man to be able to go through this eye-opening event.