August 06, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced that the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) has been named a 2026 Savings Champion for effectively and actively promoting savings strategies during the annual America Saves Week.
America Saves Week, which was April 5-11, was part of Financial Literacy Month. More than 5,300 groups across the U.S. took part in America Saves Week. ORS was one of 20 groups awarded the Savings Champion award. ORS was also one of just 10 groups to earn it in consecutive years and one of only five groups to earn it three years in a row.
During the week, ORS encouraged people to build a strong financial base, save for emergencies, plan with purpose, pay down debt, and focus on their future. The ORS campaign used a storybook theme “Own Your Financial Story: Big Plans. Small Steps.”
“Our purpose is to help our customers achieve a successful today and a secure tomorrow,” ORS Executive Director Anthony Estell said. “We understand that retirement is one of many financial objectives that people may have, and we want to help them identify their priorities and take the small steps that will help them meet their short-term and long-term goals.”
For America Saves Week, ORS pointed out that “your future isn’t written — it’s created. Start with one step toward your next goal, and trust that those steps will add up to something extraordinary.”
ORS efforts for America Saves Week included social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X; articles in the quarterly Proactive newsletter; an email delivered to over 193,000 email addresses; DTMB digital signs at 25 locations across Michigan; and internal content for State of Michigan employees.
During the week, ORS and other groups helped inspire savings habits for financial well-being and encouraged over $169 million in savings. Additionally, ORS urged engagement with the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans administered by Voya Financial.
America Saves Week is an annual part of America Saves, a national campaign managed by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.
2026 America Saves Saving Champion Award recipients
About Michigan Office of Retirement Services
The Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) administers retirement programs for Michigan's state employees, public school employees, judges, state police, and National Guard members. This includes over 602,000 customers (about 265,000 active, 20,000 deferred, and 317,000 retired). Nearly one in every 13 Michigan adults living in one in every eight Michigan households benefit from ORS services.
About America Saves
America Saves is a campaign coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America and is dedicated to empowering all, particularly those who are financially vulnerable, to build financial confidence through effective saving, debt reduction, and wealth building strategies. Learn more at AmericaSaves.org and AmericaSavesWeek.org.
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