PRESS RELEASE

Dallas - January 21, 2010 - Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas (CCCS of Greater Dallas) is hosting The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) Be Money Wi$e National Financial Literacy Poster Contest in the Dallas area. School-aged children grades three through 12 are eligible to enter, with local and national winners to be chosen from three grade categories. Entries are due to CCCS of Greater Dallas' headquarters February 19.

The theme of NFCC's 2010 Be Money Wi$e Poster Contest is "Smart Money Choices = A Brighter Future." Students from public or private schools may enter the contest, as well as home-schooled children or those in after-school programs. Entries will be judged on expression of the theme, artistic style and creativity. In addition to encouraging all local school-aged children to get involved, CCCS of Greater Dallas will partner with any local schools who promote the contest through teachers and parents by offering a free educational seminar to children and/or school staff.

"This year's contest theme truly defines why we should educate our children on proper money management," said Todd Mark, vice president of education for CCCS of Greater Dallas. "Developing smart and responsible skills at an early age can help a child to become a successful and happy adult."

In 2009, the national elementary school category winner and finalist was Jenna Fink from Allen Elementary in Frisco, Texas. As in years past, CCCS of Greater Dallas will choose a local winner from three grade categories, who will be submitted to NFCC for the 2010 national competition. National finalists will then be placed in contention for three national awards, one per grade category, by a panel of judges representing academia, the media and government. An overall national winner will also be chosen from the three category winners.

All national finalists will receive a commemorative t-shirt, and each national grade category winner will receive an award plaque and a $100 savings bond. In addition to the t-shirt and award plaque, the national winner will win a $500 savings bond and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. with a guardian, where he or she will be given official recognition on Capitol Hill as part of Financial Literacy Month in April. Dallas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a personal finance advocate, is hosting the national winners in Washington D.C. and encourages Dallas students to get involved.

"I am proud to host the Be Money Wi$e Poster Contest on the Hill for the third year in a row. It is crucial that we work together to promote financial literacy among young people, and this contest does just that in a fun, accessible way," Congresswoman Johnson said. "It is my hope that students throughout North Texas participate this year and in the years to come."

National organizations have joined the NFCC to support and promote this youth financial literacy initiative. They include American Bankers Association Education Foundation, Council for Economic Education, Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Junior Achievement USA and the National Education Association Member Benefits.

"We encourage all North Texas school-aged children to get involved. This is a tremendous opportunity to learn about personal finance in addition to receiving an all-expense-paid trip to D.C.," Mark added.

To become involved, teachers, parents and/or students are encouraged to visit www.MoneyWisePosterContest.org, where they can find detailed information, including contest rules, entry forms, and where to submit poster entries. Dallas entries should be delivered or mailed to:
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas
Attention: Todd Mark - Poster Contest Entry
8737 King George Drive, Suite 200
Dallas, Texas 75235

For information on free CCCS of Greater Dallas financial literacy classes, visit www.cccs.net or contact Todd Mark at (214) 540-6810.

About CCCS of Greater Dallas
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas, Inc. is a nonprofit, community based credit counseling and debt management service. Established in 1974, CCCS of Greater Dallas and its affiliate offices provide financial education and counseling to consumers in-person, by phone, or Internet through their 24 locations in four states. CCCS of Greater Dallas is a HUD approved housing counselor and serves as one of eight counseling agencies supporting the 888-995-HOPE Hotline. The agency is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the nation's largest and longest serving national non-profit credit counseling network. To learn more about CCCS of Greater Dallas' free seminars or the agency's services, visit www.cccs.net.

About NFCC
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), founded in 1951, is the nation's largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling organization. The NFCC's mission is to promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and build capacity for its members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. NFCC members annually help more than two million consumers through close to 850 community-based offices nationwide. For free and affordable confidential advice through a reputable NFCC member, call 1-800-388-2227, (en Español 1-800-682-9832) or visit www.nfcc.org.