2019-20 Youth Advisory Board Photo

Welcome New Youth Board!

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A new school year means a new crew on the Youth Advisory Board!  The 2019-2020 Youth Advisory Board members have been chosen and have all ready kicked this year off with their first meeting Saturday, August 17. The 18 Board Members that make up this years’ board come from all over the Denver metro area and bring with them a …

Run Your Own Business Mini Marketplace

Tales from Camp: Business inspiration at RYOB Camp

Janet Redwine General 2 Comments

Do you know any kids who have started their own business?  If you set foot in Running Your Own Biz (RYOB) Summer Camp, youth business owners are all around you! In this one-week camp, second and third grade students learned basic business skills that prepared them to open their very own store at the end of the week.  For example, …

Jack Fleming is the 18-year-old owner of a lawn care business called Yard Boyz. Due to his dedication and vision, the business has steadily grown over the last five years, and in 2018 Jack made $25,000 in profit! Jack’s goals for this summer include staying on top of his administrative work and expanding his business. He is a finalist in the 2019 Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition. Watch Jack pitch his business on Colorado & Company, and learn more about him and his business below. Question: Tell me a little bit about you – name, age, how long you’ve been an entrepreneur? Answer: My name is Jack Fleming and I am a recent high school graduate. I started Yard Boyz 5 years ago. Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business? A: I was motivated to start Yard Boyz because I wanted to have money of my own. I enjoyed cutting lawns, and I thought it was a simple way to make a little extra money. Q: Please share an overview of your business. A: Yard Boyz is a general landscaping service that specializes in weekly lawn mowing. We also do small- to medium-sized landscaping projects in the Centennial area. Q: Do you have a website or place for people to contact you/buy products?If so, what is it? A: I currently do not have a website. Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner. A: One of the top challenges about running my business is making sure that I keep all the little details straight with regard to scheduling, payroll, employee scheduling, billing, and equipment. Q: What’s the best part about having your own business? A: My favorite part about having my own business is learning what it truly takes to be an adult and have a job. Some of my friend’s experiences cannot compare to the things I have had to do and the responsibilities I have had to manage. Q: Would you encourage other young people to start a business? Why or why not? A: Of course. I personally believe that almost all students in high school should have businesses if they want one. It teaches them so many valuable skills. Q: What is your involvement with Young Americans Center for Financial Education? A: I applied to their YourthBiz business competition and have been named a finalist for the past two years. Also, when I was younger, I participated in AmeriTowne as an Accountant at the Utility Center. Q: I hear that congratulations are in order—you’re a finalist in this year’s Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition! Tell us about this award and how it could help your business improve. A: This award seeks to help small businesses improve from ages 6-21. I am grateful to be named a finalist, and I plan to use the money awarded to help replace some worn out equipment that I have been using.

Monthly Entrepreneur: Jack Fleming, owner of Yard Boyz

Janet Redwine General Leave a Comment

Jack Fleming is the 18-year-old owner of a lawn care business called Yard Boyz.  Due to his dedication and vision, the business has steadily grown over the last five years, and in 2018 Jack made $25,000 in profit! Jack’s goals for this summer include staying on top of his administrative work and expanding his business. He is a finalist in the 2019 Spotlight …

Young Americans Center for Financial Education welcomes four Daniels Scholar interns to our team this summer! Madison Turner, Sasha Shadrina, Miguel Gonzalez, and Imad Rashed, current college students, have all stepped into roles as Counselors in Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters summer camps. I caught up with three of these exceptional individuals between camps to see how their experiences have been so far. Madison Turner, aka Madi, just finished her freshman year at Texas Christian University. She is working on a communications major there, and knows that she will start her own nonprofit someday. For Madi, this summer has been a “huge learning experience.” Although she has worked with children in the past, seeing them take on new, “adult” roles in Young AmeriTowne demonstrates to her how important financial education is. And, the campers are also fun to watch. “I thought it was a good life lesson when one of my students had to pay a co-pay in the AmeriTowne Medical Center,” said Madi. “He didn’t realize that he would need to put some money aside for emergencies, so this was a good example of why you shouldn’t spend all of your money.” Another accomplished intern, Imad Rashed will begin his sophomore year at Cal Poly this fall where he’s studying business. He was excited about the Young Americans Center opportunity because he thought teaching young people about business would be something different and interesting. Plus, even though he grew up in Denver, he didn’t have an opportunity to do Young AmeriTowne as a kid. In addition to facilitating learning for campers, Imad is excited that he has learned a few lessons himself this summer. “When it seems like nothing is going according to plan, I have to improvise and make sure they have a good experience regardless,” said Imad. He added, “It’s been so great having the opportunity to teach students about the world we live in and to see these lessons really stick with them.” Sasha Shadrina is just as excited about her summer so far. She is a finance major at the University of Denver, and she is also beginning her sophomore year this fall. Passionate about financial education, what she has found most interesting about her experience this summer is infection between her many interests–kids, business, education–that Young Americans Center has provided. Sasha was particularly impacted by her experience at Moorhead Recreation Center two weeks ago where she enjoyed helping kids see a different future for themselves. “It was so meaningful for me to see how much these students learned in just one week,” she said. “Kids who started the week shy ended up running for an election.” The addition of these four interns serves two purposes. Madi, Sasha, Miguel and Imad have all helped our staff deliver quality programs. But even more importantly, these four are serving as such great examples to the students they work with. Thank you to our interns for your time and dedication!

Daniels Scholars Teach and Learn in Young Americans Center Camps

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, General, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Young Americans Center for Financial Education welcomes four Daniels Scholar interns to our team this summer! Madison Turner, Sasha Shadrina, Miguel Gonzalez, and Imad Rashed, current college students, have all stepped into roles as Counselors in Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters summer camps.  I caught up with three of these exceptional individuals between camps to see how their experiences have been so …

Summer Camp Bank Deposit

Looking for 37 Donor Friends!

Young Americans Center for Financial Education Classes + Camps, General, Get Involved Leave a Comment

If you were 10 years old, and your family had no money for “extras,” what would be the best news ever? How about a scholarship to the summer camp of your dreams! For 37 deserving students, the answer is “Yes! There’s a place for you at Jr. Money Matters, Girls Can, International Towne, …” In fact, every camp, from the brand ...
Lawn Mowing Photo

Make Some Money This Summer!

Anna Leer General, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

If you’re hoping to save, not just spend money this summer break, you’re in luck!  There are so many ways to be a young business owner.  This week, YouthBiz and Young Americans Center for Financial Education bring you our top ideas for starting a summer business. Neighborhood Game Night – Organize games for neighborhood kids to come over and play…for a small …

Arrowhead Teachers at the 2019 Send a School Breakfast

Send-a-School Breakfast Inspires and Delights

Janet Redwine General, Get Involved, International Towne, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Community members, supporters, teachers and Young Americans Center staff members gathered in Young AmeriTowne this morning to celebrate the success of Send-a-School, a scholarship initiative that educated 8,271 deserving students last year. Thanks to Send-a-School, eligible students can participate in the Young AmeriTowne and International Towne educational programs at a reduced rate.  For example, at Arrowhead Elementary school, where 46% of …

What’s better than a trip to Young AmeriTowne? A trip that includes a special visit from the top elected official in Colorado: Governor Jared Polis! Fifth grade students from Cherry Drive Elementary were thrilled to host Governor Polis in Young AmeriTowne on April 23 to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. Governor Polis joined Department of Regulatory Agencies (or DORA) Executive Director Patty Salazar and Young Americans Center for Financial Education President and CEO Rich Martinez in welcoming the students to Towne. GOVERNOR JARED POLIS SWEARS IN THE AMERITOWNE MAYOR, JUDGE, AND POLICE FORCE. Prior to the Towne’s Opening Ceremonies, Ms. Salazar and Governor Polis challenged the students to practice financial responsibility. During their day to run Young AmeriTowne, students receive their own paycheck in so they can budget their money and record purchases in their checkbook register. “These are the kinds of lessons you’ll need to know someday,” said Governor Polis. The teachers and principal from Cherry Drive Elementary, which has participated in AmeriTowne for more than a decade, whole-heartedly agreed. “This program brings standards to life,” remarked Principal Tina Hepp. Nodding, Teacher Kim Carreon agreed. “The kids learn a ton, and they love it,” she said. Teacher Nicole Lecumberry added, “What I appreciate is the level of engagement from the students. Whenever I say that we’re working on AmeriTowne, the kids can’t wait to get out their workbooks.” DORA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PATTY SALAZAR ASKS STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR TOWNE LAWS. Across Towne at the Snack Shop, 10-year-old Mckenzie sipped lemonade with a huge smile on her face. “I feel happy because we have an opportunity to come here and not just sit at school. Plus, we got to meet someone that not many people get to meet,” she said, referring to Governor Polis.

Learning Comes to Life in Young AmeriTowne

Janet Redwine Events, General, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

What’s better than a trip to Young AmeriTowne?  A trip that includes a special visit from the top elected official in Colorado: Governor Jared Polis! Fifth grade students from Cherry Drive Elementary were thrilled to host Governor Polis in Young AmeriTowne on April 23 to celebrate Financial Literacy Month.  Governor Polis joined Department of Regulatory Agencies (or DORA) Executive Director …

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Meet a Board Member: Steve Hills, Riveron

Janet Redwine General, Get Involved Leave a Comment

Young Americans Center for Financial Education is pleased to introduce you to Board Member Steve Hills, Managing Director at Riveron. With more than 15 years of experience in accounting financial leadership roles, Steve is an asset to the Young Americans Center Board.  At Riveron, he works to establish and develop client relationships, and he builds teams that consistently exceed client …