PASADENA, Calif. — This season LA Financial Credit Union and theNBA's L.A. Clippers have joined forces to teach area young peopleabout finances.

The credit union is a major sponsor of the Clippers' new “KidsRead To Achieve for Financial Literacy Program.”

The L.A. Clippers has run a successful Read to Achieve programfor five years; with more than 40,000 children from 19 Los Angelesschool districts enrolled last year. The program challengeschildren in elementary, middle and high school to read by offeringvarious incentives. This year, the organization wanted to add afinancial literacy component. In their search for a programsponsor, the organization discovered LA Financial Credit Union'scommunity involvement focus on children and financial literacy.

“LA Financial is proud to partner with the L.A. Clippers,” saidVice President of Marketing Renee Mackanin. “We would never be ableto deliver financial education to so many children on our own. Thispartnership will help us to achieve our goals and educate thousandsof children in L.A. County.”

Through the program, elementary and middle school students willlearn about earning, saving, and spending through reading. Theywill be encouraged to read to earn “Read to Achieve Dollars.”

At the end of the program, 10 students (five from elementary andfive from middle school) with the most “Read to Achieve Dollars”will become members of the Clippers Financial Bank Shot Board andreceive a $200 scholarship courtesy of the credit union.

High school students will participate in an essay contest toexpress their knowledge of how earning, saving, spending, andborrowing can affect their financial future. Students of the fivewinning essays will round out the Clippers Financial Bank Shot andreceive a $200 scholarship.

Clippers Financial Bank Shot Board members will also serve as afocus group to help LA Financial in developing products andservices for its members under 18 year old.

Some of the program perks include everything from classroomvisits by L.A. Clipper players to game tickets to Clippermerchandise, it also offers many incentives to encourage studentsto learn about financial matters.

The Clippers traditionally sponsor three reading and learningcenters throughout the county, providing the community withhundreds of books, resource guides, and reference materials. Aspart of the partnership, LA Financial will offer financialeducation workshops to adults and children at these centers.