Greylock Federal Credit Union Provides Financial Literacy Resources

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. Greylock Federal Credit Union (FCU) is bringing financial literacy education to over 14,440 students and residents in Massachusetts. 
 
Students at 166 schools will have free access to Banzai, an online program and content library that allows users to practice real-world finance from the safety of their home or classroom using any internet-enabled device. Greylock FCU offers Banzai to all of the students in their field of membership areas which include Berkshire, Westfield, Southwick, Granville, Montgomery and Russell counties. 
 
"Thank you SO much for providing the Berkshire Country Day School students with the Banzai courses!" said teacher Kathy Shortelle at Berkshire Country Day School. "They enjoyed the Junior course and we will start the Teen course earlier in the year. We had two speakers, including Mike Fazio and they were wonderful! Thank you for opening up the financial world to our students. They now know the necessary vocabulary and know how important it is to save."
 
Through the Banzai online courses, students try out managing a budget, saving for a goal, and dealing with unexpected financial pitfalls. Teachers are able to easily monitor and grade student progress remotely. Other resources, which include articles, calculators, and personalizable Coach sessions, explain everything from the basics of filing your taxes to how health insurance
works. These resources are available at greylock.teachbanzai.com/wellness.
 
"Thanks to Greylock FCU, area students will now have access to a wide array of courses and resources designed to help prepare them for our increasingly complex world," said Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai. "We wouldn't be able to provide these tools without their
support." 
 
Since 2010, Greylock FCU has worked with Banzai to build financial literacy in the community by investing time, money, industry experience, and a variety of credit union resources. Through their help, students have access to Banzai learning tools, virtual or in-classroom presentations from a Greylock FCU expert, and even class visits to a branch to see it all in person.
 
Banzai resources are used by over 75,000 teachers across the U.S. These educational tools align with Massachusetts' state curriculum requirements. After finishing the Banzai courses, users will know how to track where their money is and what it's for, recognize financial trade-offs, and plan for a financially sound future.
 
Teachers interested in using Banzai can visit greylock.teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.

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Combined No-HItter Lifts Pittsfield Babe Ruth Team to Regional Tourney

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Kevin Smith was dominant, and the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 16-year-old All-Stars offense gave him just enough support to secure a 2-1 win over Westfield in the Western Massachusetts Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.
 
Smith struck out 11 in six innings before Cooper Reed delivered a scoreless seventh as the pair combined on a no-hitter and Pittsfield claimed a berth in next weekend’s New England Regional Championship in Stamford, Conn.
 
“I felt pretty good,” Smith said after his second outing of the three-team tournament. “I was mainly throwing fastballs until they started hitting it, and then I went with the off-speed.”
 
Smith threw two innings in Pittsfield’s five-inning win over Southern Berkshire in the tournament opener.
 
Sunday afternoon, when the game was in the balance on every pitch, was more his speed.
 
“I love it,” he said of the one-run game. “I like feeling the pressure on me and I’m getting the job done. It feels good afterwards.”
 
Smith struck out eight of the first 10 batters he faced, pitching around walks in the first and second innings and facing just two over the minimum through three.
 
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