Lyons Helps to Kick-off Money Smart Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 14, 2009
For More Information:
Angela Lyons, (217) 244-2612
anglyons@illinois.edu

URBANA, IL – A leading national expert on financial education will keynote the kick-off event for Money Smart Week.

Angela Lyons, an associate professor in the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Director, U of I Center for Economic and Financial Education, will address the April 17 luncheon event in Bloomington. The Money Smart Week program includes events throughout the week of April 18-April 25 in Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, and Rockford.

"Given the current state of our economy, it is important for all of us to take personal responsibility for our financial situation," she said. "It is absolutely critical that we develop the skills and tools to ensure our long-term financial security."

The Money Smart Week program, she added, includes numerous activities to help consumers achieve these goals. Information about events during Money Smart Week in the participating Illinois communities can be found at: (http://moneysmartweek.org/illinois/), the program's website.

Lyons said the Money Smart Week program was launched several years ago by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its partner organizations.

"It brings together different groups concerned with consumer financial education in the participating communities and they offer programs locally," she said. "These programs are free."

CONTACT:  Bob Sampson, (217) 244-0225, rsampson@uiuc.edu