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Credit for Life

Credit for Life provides financial literacy fairs and education for the high school students in Springfield and Holyoke, Easthampton, Chicopee, West Springfield and other communities throughout Western Massachusetts

Credit for life logoCredit for Life partners with Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts to offer a series of financial literacy fairs, including the Teen Reality Fair, for high school students throughout the region.

During each event, students visit booths for day-to-day needs (and wants) in life: housing, transportation, insurance, education, clothing, charitable giving, furniture, loans, etc. Attendees make real-life decisions based on their arbitrarily assigned credit score and career choice, role-playing to budget their money so they can pay their bills on time and establish and maintain good credit—the foundation of a solid and financially stable future.

Watch videos of previous fairs

JA Finance Park®

Prior to attending a Credit for Life fair, we encourage classes to complete the virtual simulation JA Financial Park Junior Achievement’s capstone program for middle school students, which introduces middle and high school students to key concepts in personal finance and budgeting, building a foundation for solid financial decisions throughout their lives.

For Students

Do you know what your credit score is? What a good credit score is? How to establish, maintain and protect your credit score? How about how a good credit score enables you to navigate your life in the most financially sound way, or what mistakes can harm your credit score? 

The Credit for Life financial literacy fairs will give you the answers to all these credit questions and more. You’ll get a chance to practice making some of life’s decisions, talk with people about your options, and safely experience the consequences of your decisions during this role-playing event—a great opportunity to rehearse what awaits you in life.

Volunteer

Help us teach students to become financially literate. Nearly 1,000 students in Western Massachusetts attend the Credit for Life fairs per year. No knowledge or experience is needed. We will show you what to do when you arrive, explaining the offerings and options for your booth.

Volunteer Sign Up

Our Supporters

  • Elms College
  • Westfield Bank
  • Chicopee Savings Bank Foundation
  • Cambridge Credit Counseling
  • Balise Auto
  • People’s United Bank
  • Citizens Bank
  • Santander Bank
  • Freedom Credit Union
  • MassMutual
  • Polish National Credit Union
  • Charter Oak
  • Fedor Financial Group
  • TD Bank
  • CHH Engraving
  • Florence Bank
  • Greater Springfield Credit Union
  • PeoplesBank
  • St. Germain Investment Management
  • Westfield State University
  • Savage Arms
  • Rovithis Realty
  • Collaborate for Education Services
  • MA Division of Banks
  • State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment

To learn how you can support Credit for Life, contact us today.

Financial Literacy Links

Economic Empowerment Trust Fund: promoting the long-term economic security and stability of all Massachusetts residents

Youth Financial Education Fair Tool Kit: everything you need to run a successful youth financial education fair, offered by the Office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer