Cincinnati Magazine: Show them the money
Magazine profiles UC's Julie Heath and the $martPath program she developed
The first online comment to the Cincinnati Magazine article – “Show them the money: $martPath uses puppets to teach kids financial literacy” – is a spot-on endorsement:
“What a fantastic (and creative) way to help young people understand the financial choices they will be making the rest of their lives. Learning at a young age will give these kids a HUGE advantage over their peers. Kudos to Julie Heath!”
The magazine article profiles Julie Heath, director of the Alpaugh Family Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati, and the evolution of $martPath, an award-winning series of videos that teaches young students about economic concepts via cartoons and puppetry. The video stories, with bears, skunks, and robot puppets, illustrate how to save money and distinguish between cash and credit.
The article’s author goes into great detail to explain how a rapping puppeteer, a public TV station, and a UC economist team up to teach children about financial aliteracy and making good choices.
“We’re not teaching a 5-year-old to write a check,” Heath says in the article. “We’re teaching a 5-year-old that if you borrow something, you give it back in the same condition they gave it to you. We’re teaching a 5-year-old that if you choose this, you’re giving up that.”
$martPath celebrated the release of its first six puppet videos with a red-carpet event in February 2020. Published on the $martPath website, YouTube, and PBS Learning Media, the 5- to 10-minute clips and accompanying lesson plans proved instant hits among kids, teachers, and parents. They also won three regional Emmys and were spotlighted on CNBC.
Feature image at top Julie Heath.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
UC IT student is set to graduate one year after completing high school
April 17, 2026
By taking College Credit Plus classes as a high schooler, Gage Sweet was able to complete most of his bachelor of science in information technology degree before graduating from West Clermont High School. Now, one year after receiving his high school diploma, Sweet is graduating with his BSIT from University of Cincinnati.
New UC Blue Ash business officer is a familiar face on campus
April 17, 2026
Lacey McCarthy will bring her skills, expertise and more than 20 years of experience in budget and financing to her new role as business officer for the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College.
New 1819 partnership gives students direct path to AI careers
April 16, 2026
A new partnership at the University of Cincinnati (UC) could give students something many graduates want most: a direct route from the classroom to a high-demand tech job. UC has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Salesforce to launch TCS My First AI Job, a new program designed to provide students with skills certification in AI solutions, paid work experience, and a pathway to full-time roles at TCS upon graduation.