Operation Scam Jam, Financial Education & Shred Events Highlight 2014 WV Money Smart Week, April 5-12

AARP West Virginia and the AARP Foundation are partnering with more than 20 organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Federal Trade Commission, and FINRA Investor Education Foundation to promote financial wellness during 2014 West Virginia MoneySmart Week^®, April 5 - 12.

West Virginia Money Smart Week ^®(MSW) is part of a multi-state public awareness campaign of the Federal Reserve Bank that stresses the importance of financial literacy, informs consumers where they can get help, and provides free educational seminars and activities in multiple locations during a selected week each year.

The highlight event for this year’s statewide MSW observance will be a Mid-Ohio Valley “Operation Scam Jam” Consumer University, Tuesday, April 8, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., at The Blennerhassett Hotel, 320 Market St., Parkersburg. This financial education event will feature state constitutional officers and officials, regional and national presenters including experts from the West Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol, AARP, Federal Trade Commission, FINRA Investor Education Foundation and more. You must be pre-registered to attend this event.

Other featured West Virginia MSW events will include: Credit Report Day events and interactive webinars, hosted by Apprisen; the West Virginia Bankers Association’s statewide “ Teach Children to Save Day ” initiative with financial institutions and MSW partners; a Money Management & Budgeting Tips financial education workshop in Cabell County; the West Virginia “Women & Money” Conference, hosted by the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, Thursday, April 10, in Shepherdstown; a series of financial education and fraud prevention workshops, hosted by MSW partners; and, AARP Foundation’s “Fight Fraud, Shred Instead” free recycling event in the Kanawha Valley, 9 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, April 12 at Cabela’s, 200 Cross Terrace Blvd., Southridge Center, Charleston.

West Virginia MSW partners include: AARP, AARP Foundation, American Library Association, Apprisen, Bennett Educational Consulting, Bluegrass E-Cycle, Charleston Newspapers, Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Trade Commission, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, Financial Stability Partnership of the River Cities, Jump$tart Coalition, Junior Achievement of WV, WV Alliance for Sustainable Families, WV Attorney General’s Office, WV State Auditor’s Office, WV Bankers Association, WV Department of Agriculture, WV Department of Education, WV ElderWatch, WV Higher Education Policy Commission, WV Library Commission, WV Secretary of State’s Office, WV Senior Legal Aid, WV Senior Medicare Patrol, and the WV State Treasurer’s Office. For more information on West Virginia MSW activities, visit www.facebook.com/WVMSW or  www.moneysmartweek.org.