Contact: Alisa Erbland
Marketing Manager
Phone: 800.724.9282 x3305
Email: aerbland@reliantcu.com
SODUS, N.Y., September 22, 2026—Local high school students will have another opportunity to experience the financial realities of adulthood when Reliant Credit Union brings the Bite of Reality program to Lyons High School on September 24. The event follows a successful local debut earlier this summer.
The first local Bite of Reality simulation was held on July 15 at Sodus Central High School, bringing together Steady Work students from throughout Wayne County.
With support from the New York Credit Union Foundation, Bite of Reality is an interactive financial literacy experience that challenges students to navigate real-world budgeting decisions based on a personalized life scenario. Participants are assigned an occupation, income, credit score, family profile, and potential debt obligations before making choices related to housing, transportation, childcare, groceries, and other everyday expenses.
“Financial literacy is one of the most important skills a young person can develop,” said Reliant Credit Union Chief Experience Officer Amy Calabrese, who also serves as a member of the New York Credit Union Foundation Board of Trustees. “Through Bite of Reality, students experience the real-world impact of budgeting, credit, and everyday financial decisions in a way that’s engaging, memorable, and meaningful. We are excited to bring this experience to local schools and equip the next generation with practical skills that will benefit them for years to come.”
Throughout the 90-minute simulation, students visit 10 stations staffed by credit union volunteers, making financial decisions based on their assigned circumstances and seeing firsthand how factors such as credit scores, debt, and family size can affect their budgets.
Students responded enthusiastically to the experience in July, with many saying they would like to participate again. Participants said they were surprised to learn how significantly a credit score influences financial options and just how expensive it can be to raise a family.
“Programs like Bite of Reality are exactly why the Foundation exists: to give young people the tools and confidence to build strong financial futures,” said Tim Bruculere, Chair of the New York Credit Union Foundation Board of Trustees. “We’re proud to see Reliant Credit Union bringing this experience to local students. Financial education and support are at the heart of our mission, and this kind of hands-on experience turns abstract lessons about credit, budgeting, and family expenses into something students can see and feel for themselves. That’s how real financial confidence takes root, and it’s exactly the kind of impact we hope to continue to see in communities across New York.”
For more information about upcoming Bite of Reality events hosted by Reliant, please contact:
Stephanie Weiss
Member Development Coordinator
Reliant Credit Union
sweiss@reliantcu.com
About Reliant:
Reliant Credit Union, a member-owned, not-for-profit institution with over $742 million in assets and more than 48,000 members, has been helping the community achieve financial goals since 1970. Eligibility is available to all who live, work, worship, attend school, or volunteer in Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne counties. Reliant currently has branches in Brockport, Canandaigua, Farmington, Geneva, Henrietta, Irondequoit, Macedon, Newark, Sodus, and Webster, with convenient ATMs available in Newark and Victor. A full-service financial institution, Reliant offers a complete range of financial products and services, including mortgages and financial education programs. For information regarding membership or employment, contact the credit union at 800-724-9282 or visit reliantcu.com.
About the New York Credit Union Foundation:
The New York Credit Union Foundation is the philanthropic heartbeat of the New York Credit Union Association. As a committed 501(c)(3) public charity, we are fueled by the generous contributions of organizations and individuals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the lives of New Yorkers. Our mission is clear and compelling: to positively impact New Yorkers through credit unions.
We believe in the impact of financial education and support. Through strategic grants and financial assistance, we empower the New York credit union community to offer critical resources such as adult and youth financial education, member service enhancements, and professional development opportunities for staff and volunteers.