The Credit Education Resources Foundation was established in 1989 in response to the
growing need for consumer credit education. This not-for-profit organization was designed to
develop and implement a program of credit education for the consumer through publications,
meetings, study groups and seminars. Members of Credit Professionals International conduct
programs around the U.S. and Canada for students, senior citizen groups, civic and service
clubs and for the general public.
In July of 2000, Credit Education Resources Foundation released an audiotape,
Take Charge of Your Life,
geared toward educating the general public on financial topics such
as:Getting Started
How Credit Works
Credit Cards
Your Credit Record
How to Protect Your Credit
Banking
Budgeting
Fraud
This professional look at credit issues facing everyone was written by members of Credit
Professionals International and other leaders in the credit industry.
Instructor's Guide for "Take Charge of Your Life" Click to see announcement
Companion PowerPoint Presentation
Important User's Instructions for the PowerPoint Presentation
Walk-A-Thon
Each year, Credit Education Resources Foundation and the members of Credit Professionals
International hold a Walk-A-Thon in conjunction with the annual conference. Proceeds from
the Walk-A-Thon support the Foundation's credit education activities. Twenty-five percent of
the proceeds go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In addition many CPI Local & District Associations hold Walkathons to raise money prior to the
conference. CPI would like to help your local or district by providing forms to help you
facilitate a walkathon -- see members only section.
For additional information, contact Credit Education Resources Foundation,
What You Should Know About Your Foundation!!!
The Credit Education Resources Foundation, commonly referred to as "The Foundation"
(formerly "CERF"), was established as the tool for us to accept donations to our organization
that are tax-deductible through a 501( c)(3) corporation.
The Foundation was started at the August meeting in St. Louis in 1987. The process to get
everything in place took over another year and the charter was granted in 1989.
Money that is received by the Foundation is designated as donations.
The Walk-A-Thons were the first projects put into place to generate funds for the Foundation.
The first two Walk-A-Thons were done in 1988 in Calgary, Canada by the then International
President, Hazel Wilson-Knopp's association and Twin Falls, Idaho by the then District 10
Credit Professional Presidents, Terry J Rowe's association. The Walk-A-Thon program has
brought in a steady income for the Foundation.
The Foundation worked to link up with an international cause, to tie the Foundation to, hoping
to add additional advertising opportunities for the Walk-A-Thons that would increase the
volume and give recognition to the Foundations efforts. Hazel Wilson-Knopp met with the
Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Child Find Canada, newer organizations
working to find missing children. They met with the founders of those organizations, including
then Governor, William Clinton. Thus came the partnership with the three organizations. As
the associations in Canada disbanded we continued our partnership with the Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, giving a percentage of the funds earned through the
Walk-A-Thons to the center, a percentage is given back to the association having the event
and the balance stays with the Foundation to further Credit Education projects.
The funds from the Foundation are used to create educational information for our members
and the public sector. The number of Walk-A-Thons have diminished through the years, and
the tapes explaining the Center for Missing and Exploited Children have been not been used
and fewer Walk-A-Thon kits are being ordered. Some associations have chosen to have
non-walking walk-a-thons, or have been very creative in having dance-a-thons, bowl-a-thons,
but the numbers are down significantly.
We continue to have Walk-A-Thons at the International Conferences, encouraging all local,
state and districts to actively participate by sending donations to the District Presidents to
turn in at the International Walk-A-Thon. If you our your association are interested in having a
local, state or district walk a thon, please contact the corporate office for details.
Though the years we have applied for grants without success. This has sent us in search of
other non-dues funding and projects. We have had the District Basket raffles at the
International Conferences, the dollars in the air, and 50/50 drawing with the proceeds all
going to the Foundation to pay for educational material. Many of the educational materials
ordered and published through the International offices have been funded by the Foundation.
Some of the ways that the money has come into the Foundation are: personal donations,
memorial donations, and miscellaneous donations. These fund make up a small but important
part of our funding and are gratefully appreciated.
After a grant from Helen B. Sawyers, CCCE, Past International President the Foundation
sought a project to reach both the communities and membership of our organization.
In 1999-2000 after much planning, we decided to produce a CD/Cassette program to offer for
sale. Authors were found to write lessons that we compiled wrote scripts for and recorded at a
sound studio in St. Louis, where we hired a male narrator and the volunteered voice of Terry
J Rowe as the female narrator for the CD/cassette program. The program is "Take Charge Of
Your Life". It consists of seven lessons that help the listener learn how to get the things in life
that they want, how to be in charge of what happens to them, and that their financial future
depends on knowing how to manage your money wisely.
The topics included in the program include: Introduction and Getting Started, How Credit
Works, Credit and Credit Cards, You and Your Credit Record, You and Your Money Part 1
and Part 2, and Protection Against Fraud. The authors are many of the lessons are the
names you have seen over the years in leadership of Credit Professionals, as well as
individuals procured by our members and International Board of Directors.
The foundation continues to look at worthwhile educational projects, and in doing so felt that
there needed to be a guide created to accompany the CD/Cassettes "Take Charge of Your
Life". So, with the help of Esther Worthington, then Executive Director of CPI and then under
the direction of Carol Neal, CCBE, the Workbook was created and is available to all local
associations. They can request their initial copy at no cost, then the cost is dependent on
number, postage and if tapes or CD's were also ordered. Contact the Corporate office for
details.
The foundation also initiated the Certification program, which has been very successful in the
last year. More and more members are being certified each year and now many of those
certified in the beginning are renewing their certification after having for five years. To find
out more about certification click here.
The foundation pays a portion of the expenses for running the International office, it funds the
magazine, The Credit Professional, and many brochures. The Foundation has offered
scholarships for the last few years to first time attendees, one each from each District, to the
International conferences.
The Foundation supports our current Web Site and we invite you to glean additional
information from that site. www.creditprofessionals.org .
To quote former Foundation President Mary Nebeker, "The Walk-A-Thon Chairman The
Foundation continues to accept donations and to look for creative and productive ways to
gain revenue to teach and train our own members and then to teach the community at large".
Get the word out to your local, state and District meetings about the Foundation, and the
educational opportunities it provides to the membership and communities through Credit
Professionals International.
If you have questions concerning the Foundation, making contributions to the Foundation, or
working with the Foundation, please contact foundation President, the Corporate office or
Credit Professionals International web site, or any District President, or CPI officer or board
member.
About the Author:
Terry J Rowe, CCCE/MPCE is the President of the Credit Education Resources Foundation.
She was CPI International President in 1994/95 and is serving her third year as Foundation
President. Terry is Past President of District Ten Pacific Northwest Council twice, State of
Idaho, and Vice President of the Credit Association of Magic Valley, Twin Falls, Idaho. She is
Regional Branch Manager for Pioneer Federal Credit Union in Twin Falls, Gooding and
Jerome Idaho. tj@magiclink.com
growing need for consumer credit education. This not-for-profit organization was designed to
develop and implement a program of credit education for the consumer through publications,
meetings, study groups and seminars. Members of Credit Professionals International conduct
programs around the U.S. and Canada for students, senior citizen groups, civic and service
clubs and for the general public.
In July of 2000, Credit Education Resources Foundation released an audiotape,
Take Charge of Your Life,
geared toward educating the general public on financial topics such
as:Getting Started
How Credit Works
Credit Cards
Your Credit Record
How to Protect Your Credit
Banking
Budgeting
Fraud
This professional look at credit issues facing everyone was written by members of Credit
Professionals International and other leaders in the credit industry.
Instructor's Guide for "Take Charge of Your Life" Click to see announcement
Companion PowerPoint Presentation
Important User's Instructions for the PowerPoint Presentation
Walk-A-Thon
Each year, Credit Education Resources Foundation and the members of Credit Professionals
International hold a Walk-A-Thon in conjunction with the annual conference. Proceeds from
the Walk-A-Thon support the Foundation's credit education activities. Twenty-five percent of
the proceeds go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In addition many CPI Local & District Associations hold Walkathons to raise money prior to the
conference. CPI would like to help your local or district by providing forms to help you
facilitate a walkathon -- see members only section.
For additional information, contact Credit Education Resources Foundation,
What You Should Know About Your Foundation!!!
The Credit Education Resources Foundation, commonly referred to as "The Foundation"
(formerly "CERF"), was established as the tool for us to accept donations to our organization
that are tax-deductible through a 501( c)(3) corporation.
The Foundation was started at the August meeting in St. Louis in 1987. The process to get
everything in place took over another year and the charter was granted in 1989.
Money that is received by the Foundation is designated as donations.
The Walk-A-Thons were the first projects put into place to generate funds for the Foundation.
The first two Walk-A-Thons were done in 1988 in Calgary, Canada by the then International
President, Hazel Wilson-Knopp's association and Twin Falls, Idaho by the then District 10
Credit Professional Presidents, Terry J Rowe's association. The Walk-A-Thon program has
brought in a steady income for the Foundation.
The Foundation worked to link up with an international cause, to tie the Foundation to, hoping
to add additional advertising opportunities for the Walk-A-Thons that would increase the
volume and give recognition to the Foundations efforts. Hazel Wilson-Knopp met with the
Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Child Find Canada, newer organizations
working to find missing children. They met with the founders of those organizations, including
then Governor, William Clinton. Thus came the partnership with the three organizations. As
the associations in Canada disbanded we continued our partnership with the Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, giving a percentage of the funds earned through the
Walk-A-Thons to the center, a percentage is given back to the association having the event
and the balance stays with the Foundation to further Credit Education projects.
The funds from the Foundation are used to create educational information for our members
and the public sector. The number of Walk-A-Thons have diminished through the years, and
the tapes explaining the Center for Missing and Exploited Children have been not been used
and fewer Walk-A-Thon kits are being ordered. Some associations have chosen to have
non-walking walk-a-thons, or have been very creative in having dance-a-thons, bowl-a-thons,
but the numbers are down significantly.
We continue to have Walk-A-Thons at the International Conferences, encouraging all local,
state and districts to actively participate by sending donations to the District Presidents to
turn in at the International Walk-A-Thon. If you our your association are interested in having a
local, state or district walk a thon, please contact the corporate office for details.
Though the years we have applied for grants without success. This has sent us in search of
other non-dues funding and projects. We have had the District Basket raffles at the
International Conferences, the dollars in the air, and 50/50 drawing with the proceeds all
going to the Foundation to pay for educational material. Many of the educational materials
ordered and published through the International offices have been funded by the Foundation.
Some of the ways that the money has come into the Foundation are: personal donations,
memorial donations, and miscellaneous donations. These fund make up a small but important
part of our funding and are gratefully appreciated.
After a grant from Helen B. Sawyers, CCCE, Past International President the Foundation
sought a project to reach both the communities and membership of our organization.
In 1999-2000 after much planning, we decided to produce a CD/Cassette program to offer for
sale. Authors were found to write lessons that we compiled wrote scripts for and recorded at a
sound studio in St. Louis, where we hired a male narrator and the volunteered voice of Terry
J Rowe as the female narrator for the CD/cassette program. The program is "Take Charge Of
Your Life". It consists of seven lessons that help the listener learn how to get the things in life
that they want, how to be in charge of what happens to them, and that their financial future
depends on knowing how to manage your money wisely.
The topics included in the program include: Introduction and Getting Started, How Credit
Works, Credit and Credit Cards, You and Your Credit Record, You and Your Money Part 1
and Part 2, and Protection Against Fraud. The authors are many of the lessons are the
names you have seen over the years in leadership of Credit Professionals, as well as
individuals procured by our members and International Board of Directors.
The foundation continues to look at worthwhile educational projects, and in doing so felt that
there needed to be a guide created to accompany the CD/Cassettes "Take Charge of Your
Life". So, with the help of Esther Worthington, then Executive Director of CPI and then under
the direction of Carol Neal, CCBE, the Workbook was created and is available to all local
associations. They can request their initial copy at no cost, then the cost is dependent on
number, postage and if tapes or CD's were also ordered. Contact the Corporate office for
details.
The foundation also initiated the Certification program, which has been very successful in the
last year. More and more members are being certified each year and now many of those
certified in the beginning are renewing their certification after having for five years. To find
out more about certification click here.
The foundation pays a portion of the expenses for running the International office, it funds the
magazine, The Credit Professional, and many brochures. The Foundation has offered
scholarships for the last few years to first time attendees, one each from each District, to the
International conferences.
The Foundation supports our current Web Site and we invite you to glean additional
information from that site. www.creditprofessionals.org .
To quote former Foundation President Mary Nebeker, "The Walk-A-Thon Chairman The
Foundation continues to accept donations and to look for creative and productive ways to
gain revenue to teach and train our own members and then to teach the community at large".
Get the word out to your local, state and District meetings about the Foundation, and the
educational opportunities it provides to the membership and communities through Credit
Professionals International.
If you have questions concerning the Foundation, making contributions to the Foundation, or
working with the Foundation, please contact foundation President, the Corporate office or
Credit Professionals International web site, or any District President, or CPI officer or board
member.
About the Author:
Terry J Rowe, CCCE/MPCE is the President of the Credit Education Resources Foundation.
She was CPI International President in 1994/95 and is serving her third year as Foundation
President. Terry is Past President of District Ten Pacific Northwest Council twice, State of
Idaho, and Vice President of the Credit Association of Magic Valley, Twin Falls, Idaho. She is
Regional Branch Manager for Pioneer Federal Credit Union in Twin Falls, Gooding and
Jerome Idaho. tj@magiclink.com
Credit Professionals International
10726 Manchester Road, Ste. 210,
St Louis, Mo 63122
Phone: 314-821-9393
Fax: 314-821-7171
Email:creditpro@creditprofessionals.org
10726 Manchester Road, Ste. 210,
St Louis, Mo 63122
Phone: 314-821-9393
Fax: 314-821-7171
Email:creditpro@creditprofessionals.org
| President of The Foundation 2011/2012: Nona Ellzey MPCE nonacpi@bellsouth.net |
 |  |  |  |  |  |