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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.
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 award $98,000 in scholarships to 89 deserving schools and 7,900 deserving students in 2016. Young Americans Center is honored to have so many Send-a-School supporters:
- Alameda Gateway
- Alpine Bank, Durango
- Alpine Bank, Grand Junction
- Bank of the West
- BBVA Compass Bank
- Ed Bozarth Chevrolet
- Centennial Bank
- Champion Bank
- Cherry Creek High School DECA
- CoBank
- CoBiz Financial
- Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation
- Fidelity Investments
- First Western Trust Bank
- IMA Foundation
- Jackson National Life Insurance Company
- Madge M. and Joseph T. Mohar Charitable Foundation
- Richard and Carol Moore Family Foundation
- M.A. Mortenson Co.
- Nord Family Foundation
- Riveron Consulting
- The Charles M. and Faye G. Schayer Charitable Foundation
- Staples Foundation
- Starizon
- State Farm Insurance
- U.S. Bank
- Vectra Bank
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 Carolyn Stevens-Wood at 303-320-3250 or cstevenswood@yacenter.org for more information.
