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Dublin-based Patelco Credit Union has announced a national award for one of its longtime employees, with Senior Financial Wellbeing Educator Veronica Dangerfield named Educator of the Year by the Institute for Financial Literacy.
The recognition comes after a decades-long career for dangerfield, having spent 30 years as a financial literacy educator, 15 of which have been during her tenure with Patelco.
“Teaching is my passion, so I had to address how to make a class about finances fun,” Dangerfield said. “I have been asked why I teach financial literacy to people who have little money. Everything in life is a temporary situation. We all have a bright and successful financial future. Money is never a terminal problem.”
Based in Maine, the Institute for Financial Literacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that presents the Excellence in Financial Literacy Awards, which aim to recognize innovation, dedication and commitment to financial literacy by educators and programs throughout the country, according to a press release from Patelco April 17.
Patelco officials pointed in particular to Dangerfield’s development of a “standout digital learning platform” in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to “phenomenal engagement and growth” in the program that consisted of 230 financial wellness workshops attracting more than 7,500 attendees in 2024, with a 24% increase in engagement compared with the previous year.
Patelco officials anticipate that those resources and engagement will continue to grow in the current year, estimating a total of 500 financial education and community events in 2025.
Those courses are centered around Patelco’s “four pillars of financial wellbeing,” which consist of “spend,” “save,” ‘borrow,” and “plan,” as well as other specialized topics including estate planning, fraud prevention, tax season resources, and overcoming financial barriers for women.
Other resources include a financial wellness library, a financial wellness podcast, certified financial specialized for individualized planning and support, and a no-cost Patelco at Work program that brings financial coaches into workplaces, as well as financial wellness offerings for children, teens, and young adults.
In addition to her recent and past recognitions for her financial literacy education work, Dangerfield is a prominent comedian and public speaker with a background in aiding underserved populations, the latter of which earned her an Innovative Teaching Award from Visa in 2011 for her work in communities throughout Oakland.
“Dangerfield embodies the organization’s mission of financial education for all and its passion for helping people achieve financial well-being,” Patelco officials said in last month’s announcement. “She is a multi-national-award winner recognized for her unique approach that combines her vibrant personality as a professional comedienne and published poet with inspired and engaging programming and a passion for empowering underserved markets and youth.”
