Dozens of credit union leaders and guests attended the 2022 Richard Myles Johnson Foundation (RMJ) Donor Appreciation Gala on Tuesday night of REACH 2022, a yearly favorite of conference attendees dedicated to the funding and support of financial education in schools across California and Nevada.

(View/download conference and event photos from the REACH 2022 Photo Gallery)

This year’s gala — which celebrates donors and displays the impact RMJ makes because of their support — was held at the living-history Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, CA, boasting nearly 30 items in its silent auction and raising thousands of dollars!

“This year’s Donor Appreciation Gala gives us the opportunity to thank all of our 2022 donors and share with them the successes the foundation experienced this past year because of their support,” said Tena Lozano, executive director of the foundation. “I want to thank you all for your support. We could not accomplish our mission without you!”

In 2022, the RMJ Foundation’s "Bite of Reality" program reached more than 33,000 students throughout the United States thanks to dozens of credit unions in California, Nevada, and across the country that support RMJ. About half of these students — as well as the bulk of donor credit unions and industry participants — are in California and Nevada.

Altogether, these credit unions took advantage of the foundation’s Bite of Reality App (in Apple Store and Google Play) to make an enormous financial education impact within their local school communities.

“Every new year, it’s exciting to see how we continue receiving inquiries from credit unions all across the country that are interested in licensing the foundation’s app for their own use,” Lozano said. “The app is now being used in 25 states across the nation and making an amazing impact in the world of credit union financial education for kids and teens.”

RMJ has undertaken a research project to help it determine what’s next for the Bite of Reality App, as well as the Bite of Reality program. “We’ll be digging into the findings and determining our next-steps over the next year,” Lozano said.

During this year’s REACH conference, local students in the Palm Desert, CA region are coming back for RMJ’s onsite Bite of Reality event to embark on a fun, energizing, and educational experience. This onsite “Bite of Realty” session spotlighted to credit union leaders and professionals from across California and Nevada the importance of financial education and RMJ’s mission during the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ annual conference in Palm Desert.

This year’s gala was sponsored exclusively by PSCU, one of the nation’s premier payments CUSOs (credit union service organizations) that has been an important partner to RMJ for several years.

The RMJ Foundation is named after, and honors, credit union industry icon and former Western Corporate FCU (WesCorp) CEO Richard Myles Johnson, who passed away in August 2016 at the age of 92. He is remembered for his decades of dedication, commitment, and service to the credit union movement and philosophy.

High Schoolers Get 'Bite of Reality' During REACH 2022
Students from Amistad High School got a “bite of reality” when they attended an interactive financial education simulation designed to teach them how to manage money in the morning hours before the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ annual REACH 2022 conference kicked off its opening general session.

The Nov. 2 event at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, CA was offered by the Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation, the state foundation for credit unions in California and Nevada. It aimed to teach young people the basics of finance by having them take a “real world” test drive, complete with a job, money, and the freedom to make their own financial decisions.

Credit union industry volunteers were able to observe the students trying to manage a monthly budget while experiencing unforeseen challenges.

Through the Bite of Reality App (in Apple Store and Google Play), each of the nearly 50 students received a persona complete with occupation, salary, spouse and family, student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical insurance payments. With the app also providing them with a personalized monthly income, each student went “shopping” for items such as housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, and daycare.

Throughout the event, the students dealt with pushy salespeople portrayed by volunteers from various credit unions. And when some overspent, those staffing the "credit union" station provided much-needed assistance.

In 2022, the RMJ Foundation’s "Bite of Reality" program reached more than 33,000 students throughout the United States thanks to dozens of credit unions in California, Nevada, and across the country that support RMJ. About half of these students — as well as the bulk of donor credit unions and industry participants — are in California and Nevada.

“Every new year, it’s exciting to see how we continue receiving inquiries from credit unions all across the country that are interested in licensing the foundation’s app for their own use,” said Tena Lozano, executive director of RMJ. “The app is now being used in 25 states across the nation and making an amazing impact in the world of credit union financial education for kids and teens.”

RMJ has undertaken a research project to help it determine what’s next for the Bite of Reality App, as well as the Bite of Reality program. “We’ll be digging into the findings and determining our next-steps over the next year,” Lozano said.

Stay Engaged During REACH
Attendees and League staff will be sharing photos, comments and memories through Twitter (@CUatREACH), LinkedIn (#CUatREACH), and the REACH 2022 Photo Gallery.

REACH is one of the credit union industry’s premier annual events, attracting leaders and system partners from across California, Nevada and the United States. This year it’s held from Nov. 1 – 4 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, CA!