FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Nearly 190 children from Okaloosa and Walton counties deposited more than $42,000 into their savings accounts this spring through the annual Okaloosa Saves Teach a Child to Save campaign.
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The campaign, held April 1 through June 30, encourages youth ages 17 and younger to develop healthy savings habits and build a foundation for lifelong financial success. It is coordinated by Okaloosa Saves in partnership with financial institutions throughout Okaloosa and Walton counties.
This year, 189 children from Eglin Federal Credit Union, Renasant Bank, CCB Bank, Midsouth Bank, Teachers Federal Credit Union, PenFed and United Fidelity participated in the program, making deposits totaling $42,337.39. Since the program began in 2004, 2,686 children have deposited a combined $463,005.73.
The campaign concluded with a random drawing in which 10 children each received a $50 deposit into their savings account, courtesy of Okaloosa Saves. The winners were recognized by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners before its July 21 budget meeting.
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The 2026 Teach a Child to Save winners are:
- Cali Branson, Fort Walton Beach
- Kate Kennedy, Niceville
- Titus Kidder, Crestview
- Khai Mays, Crestview
- Liam Law, Crestview
- Marin Lee, Shalimar
- Alice Morton, Mary Esther
- David Nelson, Valparaiso
- Sofia Simeonova, Fort Walton Beach
- Liam Walbert, Crestview
“Financial literacy is one of the most important life skills we can offer our children, and Okaloosa Saves Teach Children to Save has been making a meaningful impact in our community for years,” said Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Trey Goodwin.
“By helping children understand the value of saving, budgeting and making informed financial decisions, this program is building a strong foundation for future success. We are grateful for the commitment of everyone involved in equipping our young people with the financial knowledge and skills they need to thrive as adults,” Mr Goodwin said.
Sherry Harlow, APR, treasurer of the Okaloosa Saves board, said the program continues to demonstrate the value of teaching financial responsibility at an early age.
“After serving on the Okaloosa Saves board for 23 years, I’m continually inspired by the impact of Teach Children to Save,” Ms Harlow said.
“This year alone, 189 young savers deposited more than $42,000—one of the program’s strongest years in more than a decade. Combined with the more than $463,000 saved by participants since 2004, these results demonstrate the lasting value of teaching financial literacy early and empowering children to build healthy financial habits that can last a lifetime.”
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Parents can help children develop strong financial habits by discussing budgeting and saving, opening or contributing to a savings account, teaching basic investing concepts, encouraging entrepreneurship and setting a positive example through their own financial decisions.
Okaloosa Saves is part of the national America Saves program and was founded in 2003 as a nonprofit organization that encourages individuals to build wealth and reduce debt. In 2025, the organization received the America Saves Savings Champion Award.
For more information about Okaloosa Saves, visit https://okaloosasaves.com/.
