TREASURER CAHILL, METRO CREDIT UNION, AND WBZ-FM 98.5 RADIO ANNOUNCE THE FOUR DOWNS FOR FINANCE ESSAY CONTEST

Students have a chance to win a savings account and see New England play in Foxboro

BOSTON, September 14, 2009- Today State Treasurer Tim Cahill announced that his Financial Education Department is teaming up with Metro Credit Union and WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub to offer an essay contest for students in grades K-12. One Grand Prize Winner will be chosen from the finalists and will receive a $500 savings account, a school visit from Treasurer Cahill and offensive lineman Dan Koppen, and an invitation to attend this season's last New England home game on December 27th! Students can submit essays about the importance of saving money to the website: Mass.gov/Treasury

Each week during the New England Patriots regular season, three winning essays will be selected. The weekly winners will be announced on Patriots Radio Network and receive a framed autographed photo of New England Patriots offensive lineman Dan Koppen. In addition to the Grand Prize winner, second and third place finalists will be chosen from the group of weekly winners and they will have the opportunity to see New England play in Foxboro for the last time in the 2009-10 regular season.

“I have made it a priority of my administration to help educate Massachusetts students about the importance of responsible money management,” said Treasurer Cahill. “The Four Downs for Finance contest is a way to encourage students of all ages to think more critically about their financial futures.”

Treasurer Cahill oversees the Treasury’s Financial Education Department, which includes Money Conferences for Women and Families, the Saving Makes “Cents” program, which is geared toward elementary school students, and Brown Bag Lunch Series, a financial planning luncheon series. Other programs included in the Financial Education.

Department of the Treasury are Smart Retirement & Beyond, Tomorrow's Money, a program geared to help people become educated about investing and saving, and Caution with Credit, a program aimed at educating college students about credit card use. For more information regarding these programs visit www.mass.gov/treasury/financialed.htm or call (617) 367-6900.

Timothy P. Cahill serves as Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General. He was sworn in for his second term on January 17, 2007. As the Commonwealth’s Chief Financial Officer, Cahill brings a business-minded approach to managing the state’s finances and has implemented better business practices in the Treasury’s departments and affiliated agencies. Prior to his election in 2002, Cahill served as Norfolk County Treasurer from 1997-2002, as a Quincy City Councilor from 1987-2003, and was a small business owner and the author of a book about local businessmen. He is a graduate of Boston University and a recipient of the 2007 Eisenhower Fellowship. Treasurer Cahill lives in Quincy with his wife, Tina, and their four daughters.

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