Congresswoman Judy Biggert
Serving the 13th District of Illinois
 
 » Meet Judy
 » Our District
 » Serving You
 » Judy's Views
 » News Room
 » Photo Gallery
 » Links
» Student Center
 » Contact Judy
 » Graphics version
 » Home
News

October 31, 2006Shauna Riley
202.225.3515

Bears’ Grossman, Rep. Biggert Team-Up to Keep Students Fiscally Fit


describe image here
Coach Grossman and Coach Biggert with her team of students from Orland Park's Carl Sandburg High School and Carl Sandburg teacher Christina Simpson.  Grossman continued his winning ways by coaching the Whitney M. Young students to a 20-13 victory over visiting students from Carl Sandburg High School.

Chicago, IL – U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th), Chicago Bears Starting Quarterback Rex Grossman, and Visa USA Vice President of Public Affairs Rhonda Bentz helped Chicago’s Whitney M. Young Magnet and Orland Park’s Carl Sandburg High School students gain yardage and score touchdowns in an interactive computer game to improve financial literacy.  The final score was  

"Many of you are probably more excited that Rex is here than you are about financial literacy, and the way the Bears have been playing this year, I can understand why. But Financial Football is showing young people that becoming financially literate can actually be, yes, fun," Biggert told the students.

"As the Bears continue to win on the field, I hope all of you will win in the classroom by learning how to take charge of your personal finances," said Biggert, who is Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Financial and Economic Literacy.

The game, called “Financial Football”, applies the National Football League (NFL) game rules to financial education questions. Students correctly answering the questions score points in the game. The student player scoring the highest number of points after four quarters wins the game. The Chicago school visit is part of an effort by Visa USA and the NFL to help young adults take control of their financial futures.

Earlier this year, the House passed a resolution that promotes public and private sector financial literacy programs and activities, such as the Financial Football program developed by Visa and the NFL.

The resolution, called H. Res. 737, also recognizes that Americans could benefit from more financial literacy programs. For example:

·Sixty percent of preteens do not know the difference between cash, credit cards, and checks. The majority of students failed a basic financial literacy exam.

· In the last quarter of 2005, the personal savings rate dropped to negative-point-two-percent – one of the lowest since the Great Depression.

· Studies show that as many as 10 million households in the United States are 'unbanked.’
They don’t even have a bank or credit union account.

Anyone can play Financial Football at http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/english/at_school/ff/.

ABOUT U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JUDY BIGGERT (R-IL-13th): Biggert represents portions of three counties in the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago. The 13th Congressional District stretches from the southern half of DuPage County to northern Will County and includes a small portion of southwestern Cook County. In Congress, Biggert has championed efforts to raise the financial literacy of Americans of all ages. Biggert is Co-founder and Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Financial and Economic Literacy with U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX-15th). The caucus currently has 80 bipartisan members.
# # #
Privacy & Security Policy