Telhio Credit Union, Columbus, Ohio Nonprofits and Local Family Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck Featured in Season 2 of Reality TV Series Opportunity Knocks Broadcast Nationally on PBS, and WOSU

​Are you one of the millions of Americans silently struggling as groceries, gas and housing costs skyrocket?  According to a 2023 survey by Payroll.com, over three-quarters of people in the U.S. share this burden, and it’s no wonder as the cost of everyday items, like gas and groceries, continues to skyrocket.
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Telhio Credit Union was selected by the producers of Opportunity Knocks, the award-winning personal finance reality TV series that recently premiered Season 2 on PBS.org, PBS Passport and on WOSU on Monday, May 6, 2024, and continues to air every Monday for 12 weeks. Opportunity Knocks creates an interactive experience in which viewers can use the show’s grant-funded tools, The Opportunity Finder and The Opportunity Coach, to empower themselves to take the same actionable steps as Wesley and Maegan Scherer took on their journey from financial stress to financial stability.

"We are thrilled and honored to be featured in this award-winning television series," shared Derrick Bailey, CEO of Telhio Credit Union. "This recognition is a testament to the critical financial services our team provides to change lives every day and underscores our values of caring and commitment.”

Telhio Credit Union was selected to participate in the series because of its dedication to financial empowerment and efforts to serve communities that historically have been abandoned by mainstream financial institutions. All credit unions are not-for-profit. Additionally, Telhio is Community Development Financial Institution-certified, which means that it has a mission to provide financing to underserved communities. In the series, it provides a personal loan to Wesley and Maegan Scherer, which is a pivotal point in turning their financial despair into a strategy to keep more of their own money.

Jamie Strayer, creator of The Opportunity Initiative and Opportunity Knocks and executive producer, wants viewers to know, "Everyone deserves financial opportunities. Opportunity Knocks levels the playing field and breaks down barriers for families to get ahead. Telhio’s work with the Scherer family shows the miracle that happens when people receive fair access to affordable credit.”

Brian Spoor, showrunner, director and executive producer, shared, “This is a show that gives meaning to my life’s work.” Spoor is a Prime Time Emmy-nominated director/producer of Wahlburgers and 70 other reality TV hits, including Undercover Billionaire.

Opportunity Knocks is distributed to PBS stations nationally by American Public Television (APT) and presenting station WXXI Public Media. The show is funded by the nonprofit National Council for Financial Opportunities, The Wells Fargo Foundation, Balance and Callahan and Associates. Spoor, Strayer and Jenn George Hunter executive produce the series. In its first season, Opportunity Knocks won the Silver Anthem Award, honoring mission-driven media worldwide; a prestigious Silver Telly Award for Best Reality Television Program; and The Opportunity Finder received a Gold dotComm Award.

Check local listings for your local station’s viewing times. It will also be streamed on PBS.org, the PBS Passport app, and opportunityknocks.net.

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