PRESS RELEASE

Dallas - April 14, 2011 - Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas (CCCS Dallas), a nonprofit provider of credit, housing, and financial counseling and education, announces Yudah I. Diaz, a fourth grader from El Paso's Eastwood Heights Elementary, as a national winner in the 2011 Be Money Wi$e National Poster Contest, sponsored by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).

Local judges selected Diaz as CCCS of Greater Dallas' winner in the elementary age category, advancing Diaz to the national competition. The NFCC recently named his the national winner for his category where he competed against students across the country. As a national winner, Diaz will receive a $100 savings bond, plaque and T-shirt.

"At such a young age, Yudah did a great job illustrating the value of saving money and the possibilities that can be achieved with smart money management," said Todd Mark, vice president of education for CCCS of Greater Dallas. "Yudah's poster symbolizes one of the key concepts we teach at CCCS of Greater Dallas - smart budgeting -and we are proud to have his poster represent our agency in the Be Money Wi$e poster contest."

CCCS of Greater Dallas supports the poster contest because it promotes wise money management at all ages and encourages the importance of early financial education for America's youth. Students from public or private schools, as well as home-schooled children, were invited to enter the contest and this year's theme was, "Be A $uperhero! $ave Money!"

With encouragement from his family and teachers, Diaz decided to enter the poster contest.

"Yudah is a great artist," said Sofia Chaparro, Diaz's teacher at Eastwood Heights Elementary School. "He has a lot of talent in storytelling and drawing and is very motivated."

To emphasize the importance of saving, Diaz drew a detailed dollar bill with his self-portrait as a superhero saver in the center.

"My dad told me about the contest. I like that you can use your creativity," said Diaz. "I'm going to try to enter again next year, and they will see an even better poster!"

In addition to Diaz, CCCS of Greater Dallas selected Sophia Radke, a home-schooled sixth grader from Duncanville; and Danielle Letourneau, a junior from the Frisco ISD Career & Technical Education Center, as its agency winners from Texas.

"Congratulations to all of this year's winners and kudos for all of the students who entered posters in the local contest," Mark added. "We encourage parents and educators to help get students involved each year and look forward to partnering with schools in our communities for the 2012 contest."

For more information on how to get involved in next year's NFCC Be Money Wi$e Poster Contest or for ways CCCS of Greater Dallas can help contribute to area youth financial education, please call 1-800-249-2227 or visit www.cccs.net. To further promote early financial literacy for children, CCCS of Greater Dallas is launching its new Financial Literacy Month webinar called "Little Kids and Money" on Friday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m. For a full schedule of webinars on this topic and several others throughout April, go to www.cccs.net/webinars.

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 at more than 20 locations in four states. CCCS of Greater Dallas is a HUD-approved housing counseling multi-state organization and serves as one of seven 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 or become a fan of CCCS of Greater Dallas on Facebook to receive updates on agency events and offerings.

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 three million consumers through close to 850 community-based offices nationwide. For free and affordable confidential advice through a reputable NFCC member, call1-800-388-2227, (en Español 1-800-682-9832) or visit www.nfcc.org.