Sponsor Spotlight: Send-a-School Program

Young Americans Center for Financial Education exists to provide every Colorado student, regardless of background, with the opportunity for effective training in financial literacy and workforce skills.  One of the programs that helps accomplish this mission is our Send-a-School sponsorship program.  Established in 2004, Send-a-School partners enable Young Americans to award financial assistance to students and schools attending Young AmeriTowne or International Towne.

An AmeriTowne Accountant pauses for a photo in the midst of writing expense checks.

Studies have shown that youth in low-income communities lack opportunities for academic enrichment.  School budgets in these areas often can’t afford extracurricular activities, transportation, and after school programs, and passing these costs on to parents is not an option.   Yet exposure to programs in financial literacy, a topic that comprises only a small part of a typical school’s curriculum, is vital in preparing youth for a successful future.  A basic introduction to financial concepts—saving, credit, banking, and investing—at a young age helps prepare students to be financially responsible adults.

The CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) eligible Send-a-School program allows low income students to experience, in a hands-on way, what it’s like to hold a job, use a bank, make a purchase with a credit card, travel the world, and more by providing highly discounted program costs.  Essentially, a Send-a-School partner finances the cost of a school’s visit to AmeriTowne or International Towne, including:

• Program curriculum
• Teacher training
• Volunteer training
• Student workbooks and other materials (checkbooks, passports, credit cards, etc.)
• Facilitated day in Young AmeriTowne or International Towne

Sponsors in our Send-a-School program helped reach 12,836 low-income youth and 92 at-risk schools last year.  No school eligible for financial aid was turned away.  Young Americans Center is honored to have so many Send-a-School supporters:

An International Towne student calculates the exchange rate for her customer.

• Bank of the West
• BBVA Compass Foundation
• Centennial Bank
• Champion Bank
• Cherry Creek High School DECA
• CoBank
• CoBiz Financial
• Colorado Federal Savings Bank
• Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation
• Jackson National Life Insurance Company
• Edward J. Madigan Foundation
• Mortenson Construction
• Nord Family Foundation
• Starizon
• State Farm Insurance
• U.S. Bank
• Vectra Bank Colorado
• Wells Fargo Bank
• Western Union Foundation

Thank you for serving more low-income young people than ever before!

If you are interested in helping us bring our award-winning programs to even more low-income youth in the coming school year, please contact Betsy Sklar, Vice President of Business Partnerships and Development at bsklar@yacenter.org or 303-320-3245.