GLCU Sponsors Students on Fed Fieldtrip

North Chicago, IL – The day before Thanksgiving 30 6^th and 7^th graders from Novak-King and Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago enjoyed a METRA commuter train ride into the city followed by a field trip through the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) of Chicago’s Money Museum.  The tour even included special access to the Fed’s vault, which is no longer open to the general public. The students were treated to lunch and after a full day in the city returned by METRA to the North Chicago station to be greeted by their parents.  Many students had never visited downtown Chicago nor ridden METRA.  Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), with a branch located at the Fed, was the sponsor of the trip on behalf of the Lake County Health Department’s (LCHD) FOCUS (Families in Our Community United for Success) program.

The FOCUS program is the result of a grant received by the LCHD’s Family Life Education Program.  The program will provide innovative youth development and abstinence education programming for 180 students, supported by their families, for 4 years specific to the community of North Chicago.  The FOCUS program is expected to have a positive impact on the teens, their families, their peers and the community as a whole

GLCU is an advisor to the FOCUS program and, alongside LCHD staff, has assisted with events, cultural enrichment activities, and service projects to promote the goals of the program.  The students’ fundraising and dedicated involvement in the program may culminate in a national or international travel experience.