Blaze Receives MnCUN Honor for Youth Financial Education

Blaze Credit Union was honored with the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s (MnCUN) 2025 Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award. The award recognizes Blaze's impactful initiatives promoting financial wellbeing of students in the St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS).​

Blaze Credit Union partners with SPPS to provide direct financial education to students via classroom presentations, while also operating student-run branches within four St. Paul high schools—Como, Harding, Highland Park, and Johnson. These branches provide students with financial education programs, events, and resources to empower them in managing their finances.

“Financial education extends far beyond the simple management of money; it is an essential life skill that lays the foundation for a secure and meaningful future,” said Christine Cordell, Blaze Chief Project & Learning Officer and Chair of the Blaze CU Foundation. “By teaching students about finances, we are empowering the next generation to make informed decisions, achieve financial independence, and contribute thoughtfully to their communities.”

Blaze Credit Union staff delivered over 40 presentations to classrooms in the St. Paul Schools this past year, speaking on a wide variety of financial topics including opening a checking account, budgeting, saving, retirement and mortgages.

Cordell added, “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the Minnesota Credit Union Network for our work within the St. Paul School system. Education has always been at the heart of the credit union mission, and at Blaze, we are deeply proud to continue that tradition. We believe that empowering young people with real-world financial knowledge is one of the greatest investments we can make – not just in their futures, but in the future strength of our entire community.”

The Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award, named after credit union pioneer Alphonse Desjardins, honors credit unions that demonstrate exceptional leadership in financial education for youth. Blaze’s winning entry will now advance to the national competition, where they will compete with projects from credit unions across the country.