We are excited to share that Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) has received the Non-Profit Organization of the Year 2021 Excellence In Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Award from the Institute for Financial Literacy.
PATF was one of ten recipients honored for their distinguished accomplishments in developing, implementing, and promoting successful financial literacy education worldwide.
“Each year our organization is honored to recognize those that care so deeply about financial literacy. Your passion and dedication were made clear by your nomination. It is my sincere hope that through efforts such as yours, one day financial literacy education will become abundant in our communities, schools, and homes,” wrote Rachel Gordon, Executive Director, Institute for Financial Literacy.
The 15th Annual EIFLE Awards were announced via Zoom on June 27, the evening before the Annual Conference on Financial Education (ACFE) began. The next day, PATF CEO Susan Tachau and Communications Director Susie Daily presented with Dr. Robert Arnhold, President of Growing Together Aquaponics, about the importance of financial education for people with disabilities. Dr. Arnhold spoke about successfully using PATF’s curriculum, Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management, in his job-training program for young adults with disabilities. [Watch the last webinar in our Money Talks series for a similar presentation.]
“We are honored to receive this award in recognition of our financial education work for people with disabilities,” said PATF’s CEO Susan Tachau as she accepted the award. “All too often people with disabilities are left out of financial education trainings and programs. This is why we, at PATF, felt so strongly about creating a financial education curriculum specifically designed for people with disabilities and their families so they can plan for their financial futures.”
The award acknowledges PATF’s innovative approach to financial education with the development of an array of resources specifically for members of the disability community, including Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management, the Cents and Sensibility educator companion manual and slides, the free webinar series Money Talks, and the recently rebuilt financial education website StudyMoney.us.
Nikki, a participant in the Growing Together Aquaponics job-training program, uses an activity in Cents and Sensibility to make a list of savings goals and plan for her future.
In addition, the award recognizes PATF for its advocacy for greater access to financial education for people with disabilities on a state and national level through partnerships with financial agencies, disability organizations, and educators. Notable contributions for the advancement of financial literacy include PATF’s work with both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on their respective financial education disability supplements, PATF’s advocacy with The Arc of Pennsylvania for the PA Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, and PATF’s advocacy with the Jump$tart Coalition for legislation that permits a course in personal finance to count towards graduation for high school students.
“Financial education is the foundation for living independently,” said Tachau. “When it comes to equity and inclusion, we believe comprehensive and accessible financial education can help level the playing field. That’s why PATF created a financial education curriculum designed for people with disabilities and their families, and we are proud to be honored as the 2021 Non-Profit Organization of the Year, with an Excellence in Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) award.”
The judges presented ten 2021 EIFLE awards to acknowledge innovation, dedication, and the commitment of individuals and organizations that support financial literacy education worldwide:
- Organization of the Year, Non-Profit: Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation
- Organization of the Year, For-Profit: Money Experience
- Educator of the Year: Brad Yeckley
- Adults’ Book of the Year, General: Love and Money: Conversations To Have Before You Get Married by Wallace M. Howick
- Adults’ Book of the Year, Money Management: The Get Ready Monthly Personal Finance Guidebook by Tony Steuer
- Adults’ Book of the Year, Debt Management: How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid by Mark Kantrowitz
- Adults’ Education Program of the Year, General: MiII Prep Financial Academy, Mill Prep Monday
- Children’s Education Program of the Year, General: A “Standard” Personal Finance Curriculum, Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and St. Louis
- Children’s Education Program of the Year, Financial Responsibility & Decision Making: SmartPath Puppets, Alpaugh Family Economics Center
- Game of the Year: The NeighborMood, Foolproof Foundation and DotDotFire
“We will continue working with our partners and our community to make financial education more accessible to people with disabilities and we hope to expand our work with similarly committed organizations and people, such as our fellow EIFLE awardees, to increase equity and inclusion in the financial community for people with disabilities,” Tachau ended.
About Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), founded in 1998, is a statewide non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Alternative Financing Program under the Federal Assistive Technology Act. PATF provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. Contact PATF at (888) 744-1938 or patf@patf.us. To learn more, visit www.patf.us or follow @PennsylvaniaATF on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Awards
Established in 2007, the mission of the EIFLE Awards is to promote the effective delivery of consumer financial products, services and education by acknowledging the accomplishments of those that advance financial literacy education. The EIFLE Awards dinner is held each year during the Annual Conference on Financial Education.
About the Institute for Financial Literacy
The Institute for Financial Literacy is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization whose mission is to promote effective financial education and counseling. As a national authority on adult financial education, the Institute advances professionalism and effectiveness in the field of financial literacy by setting the National Standards for Adult Financial Literacy Education™, hosting the Annual Conference on Financial Education™, presenting the Excellence In Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE)™ Awards, and administering certifications through Fincert.org™. For more information about the Institute, visit www.FinancialLit.org or call 207-873-0068.