Community

We have always been involved in the communities we serve. With over 500 locations, it means we are everywhere and we are helping everywhere. We support numerous local organizations and charitable causes as well as collect money to help victims of national and international disasters. However, our primary focus continues to be helping youth get a better education.

Record 6,100 YMCA Children Receive
School Supplies in Currency Exchanges’
Back 2 School Distribution Day

Thank you to everyone who made the program a huge success!

With a tough economy taking its toll, our Back 2 school program needed to score big. Thanks to all our customers, employees, and owners for rising to the challenge and allowing us to provide a record 6,100 YMCA children and their families with school supplies - three times more than in 2008.

100% of the money donated went to buying calculators, pens, backpacks, paper, notebooks and other tools these kids will need to succeed in the classroom. We also want to give special thanks to our corporate sponsors, Western Union and the Western Union Foundation, I.C.E. Visa Debit Card, and Legoland Discovery Center. CCEA is also grateful for the support of ELS, Netspend, and Quaker Oats for their generosity.

The Back 2 School program, created by the Currency Exchange Association and it’s 500 member stores, began in 2004 in conjunction with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. In five years the Back 2 School program has provided hundreds of thousands of school supplies to needy children in the Chicagoland area.

We also want to thank our media sponsors, including WBBM-AM, WBBM-FM, WCFC-FM, WGRB-FM, WGCI-FM, WGN-AM, WILV-FM, WJMK-FM, WKSC-FM, WLEY-FM, WLIT-FM, WNUA-FM, WPWX-FM, WSRB-FM and WVAZ-FM.

Back 2 School Program Partners And Sponsors:

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FISCA Scholarship Program
Currency Exchanges Double the Fun and Award Two Students With Scholarship Checks To Attend College in the Fall

Angela Weng of Chicago and was selected as the winner of our 2009 college scholarship while Chris Murray of Hinsdale was chosen as the winner of a regional scholarship from our national organization, Financial Service Centers of America (FISCA).

Ms. Weng, who will be attending Northwestern University this fall, received her $2,000 award during a presentation at the 35th & Ashland Currency Exchange. Steve Kravitz, Currency Exchange owner who presented the check on behalf of CCEA said, “Angela has demonstrated both academically and through her involvement in other community activities that she is extremely deserving of the scholarship.”

During her 4 years at Whitney Young, MS. Weng maintained a 4.0 grade point average and participated on the Math Team, Yearbook Committee and Forensics Club. She also served as a tutor for the National Honor Society and volunteered for the Respiratory Health Association of Chicago, Chinese American Service League and McKinley Park Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Christopher Murray, received his $2,000 scholarship award in a ceremony at Hinsdale Central High School from Mr. Abby L. Hans, Board Member and Past President of FISCA.

Mr. Murray, who will be attending Yale University next month, was active in numerous community activities including a research program for the American Cancer Society and volunteer for Community Nurse Health Association and the Union Church of Hinsdale. At Hinsdale Central he was a varsity athlete in tennis and cross-country, served as class treasurer and participated in Peer Leadership and as a member of the National Honor Society.

At the award presentation, Mr. Hans, said, “Christopher is a remarkable individual that has accomplished much during his high school tenure. We are proud to have selected him, in particular because of his commitment to community, a cornerstone of Currency Exchange’s here in Illinois as well as throughout the country.”

We congratulate Angela and Christopher. We are proud to support their continuing education.

FISCA and CCEA offer college scholarships for deserving college-bound high school seniors from families in areas served by its members. For more information on the scholarship program visit www.fisca.org.

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Fire Safety

We have a long history of working to promote fire safety and education. As part of our effort to teach young people how to recognize a fire and what to do if one occurs, we have created a bi-lingual coloring book. Please take a moment to download the coloring book and teach a young person about fire safety.