Two SoHE individuals are winners of the 2020 Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards, which annually recognizes individuals and organizations for elevating the financial literacy, capability, and financial inclusion of Wisconsin’s residents:
- Dr. Christine Whelan, Director of the Money, Relationships and Equality (MORE) Initiative and Clinical Professor of Consumer Science, was honored for her passion for translating academic research into small-step programs to make a difference in the lives of individuals of all backgrounds. Further, she was noted as a calm voice of evidence-based, purposeful financial and social well-being during the pandemic—for her students, for the Wisconsin community, and for the nation as a whole.
- Peggy Olive, Financial Capability Specialist with the Center for Financial Security and UW–Extension, was recognized for her quick respond last year when COVID-19 shut down the economy in March of 2020. She created a robust website to provide the public with up-to-date financial information and resources from a creditable source, UW-Madison Cooperative Extension. Peggy’s initiative resulted in the creation of the “Financial Resources for COVID-19” website, daily and weekly email blasts, short informational videos, and social media campaigns, which reached thousands of Wisconsinites with crucial information to overcome the financial crisis resulting from the pandemic. The website had over 33,000 page views in April 2020 alone.
“It’s my honor to work with UW–Madison Center for Financial Security and the Division of Extension in providing financial education resources in our communities across Wisconsin,” says Olive. “Thousands of individuals and families use UW financial education resources each year to support their financial security and reaching personal financial goals.”
“In the last year, the Money, Relationships and Equality Initiative worked hard to bring free, research-based programs and workbooks to the public at a time when so many had their financial lives upended,” says Dr. Whelan. “This honor from the State of Wisconsin brings much needed visibility to the importance of talking about money, values and equality at all stages of relationships. It also validates the role of evidence-based media and public outreach on financial literacy topics, which is a personal passion of mine.”
Eight individuals and five organizations were named as winners this year. Read more about the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award and the other recipients in the press releases from the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.