The Foundation s philosophy is to focus on increasing financial literacy and the wise use of consumer credit.

Toward this end, the Foundation will support, fund, present and/or participate in progrmas for schools, business and civic groups to promote financial literacy emphasizing an understanding of the consumer credit system and the wise use of consumer credit.

This includes

• promoting education on how to budget and manage money,
• types of credit and the granting of credit,
• credit reporting,
• safeguarding credit,
• credit fraud,
• consumer credit counseling,
• collections, consumer rights and responsibilities,
• the true cost of using check cashing and rent to own services,
• the disadvantages of bankruptcy,
• deceptive practices of credit clinics,
• mortgage brokers, and predatory lenders, as well as other relative subjects.

The Foundation supports the educational efforts of other organizations in this area by providing grants and other funding and supplying educational materials.

Potential grant recipients will include community credit counseling services, which provide counseling to individuals and families experiencing financial diffiuclties, university extension programs, county extension programs, and similar non-profit organizations with a goal to enhance financial literacy and the wise use of consumer credit by supporting new or existing programs.