Bankruptcy judge speaks to Career and Tech students about consequences of credit abuse

Photo courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES – The honorable John Ninfo, a retired bankruptcy judge from Rochester, spoke with students at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES in Medina.

Press Release, Orleans-Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Judge John Ninfo, a retired bankruptcy judge from Rochester, was recently the guest speaker at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

Judge Ninfo started the national organization CARE (Credit Abuse Resistance Education) to educate young adults and others about the benefits of personal financial management and the consequences of credit abuse.

He and the other volunteers, which are comprised of professionals in bankruptcy, financial services, and business, volunteer their time by sharing true stories about financial distress and the impact it can have on one’s life.

He shared with the career and technical education students how a little over half of all adults are financially literate and how it has a profound effect on a person’s ability to save for the future and increases the risk of higher debt and less savings. He says that beginning financial education at an early age is critical to a young person’s long-term financial well-being.

Work-Based Learning Coordinator Susan Zola, who invited Judge Ninfo, says it was an impactful presentation.

“He talked to the students about financial security and how important it is for your peace of mind going forward as adults,” Zola said. “He gave them handouts with the top ten lessons on budgeting and told them cash is king and to avoid credit card debt. It was a very valuable lesson for them.”