Children's Interior Sign at Young AmeriTowne Medical Center

The Link Between Financial and Physical Health

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Does being financially responsible actually make a person healthier?  Research suggests that this is true.  And thanks to Children’s Hospital Colorado, children can learn the basics of money management at a young age, providing time to practice and perfect these skills well before adulthood. The negative effects and prevalence of financial stress are well documented.  A July, 2018 article in …

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I learned it in Young AmeriTowne: Brandon Nieves, Senior Client Advisor at Schomp Subaru

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

Schomp Subaru Senior Client Advisor Brandon Nieves has a meaningful reason why you should Share the Love this holiday season.  One of the beneficiaries of Subaru’s annual giving campaign is Young AmeriTowne, a program that alum Nieves credits with providing financial lessons he continues to use today! In 2005, 10-year-old Nieves was a student at Willow Creek Elementary School, a Cherry …

Opening Ceremony of Young AmeriTowne

What Makes a Good Mayor?

Janet Redwine Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

The leader of Young AmeriTowne is a Mayor, an elected position that oversees the Towne’s judicial system, the economy, and the community.  A common question that students ask is, “What Makes a Good Mayor?”  So today, we’re providing some answers, directly from the Mayors themselves! When McGraw Elementary attended Young AmeriTowne in Lakewood last spring, 10-year-old Sarah* led the Towne …

Bank of America Financial Volunteers stand together in Front of Town Hall in Young AmeriTowne

Sponsor Spotlight: BOK Financial Inspires a Financially-Literate Future

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

When fourth and fifth grade students from Goldrick Elementary attended Young AmeriTowne yesterday, they had help from eight finance experts!  BOK Financial’s gift of both time and treasure made this day possible. BOK Financial supports the Send-a-School initiative of Young Americans Center for Financial Education.  This CRA-eligible program provides scholarships for Young AmeriTowne, International Towne, and AmeriTowne On the Road, …

Participants with orange scarfs stand together with YACFE and First Bank executives. Supporting the community is part of FirstBank’s DNA.  FirstBank  has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist and contributed more than $60 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations (efirstbank.com ).  As a result, we’re proud to highlight the partnership between FirstBank and Young Americans Center for Financial Education that allows youth to learn about banking and finance in a fun, hands-on way.

At the center of the Young AmeriTowne economy in Lakewood is the bank, presented by FirstBank.  Towne businesses take out loans and make deposits.  Student citizens deposit their paychecks and receive cash to spend in Towne.  By learning about the process and importance of banking at a young age, youth are better prepared for the future.  Ten-year-old Maddox writes that in Young AmeriTowne, ““I learned how to handle paying the bank loan back and depositing money. I feel very confident that I can handle money.”

An additional way that FirstBank strengthens Young Americans Center is through its support of Colorado Gives Day .  This state-wide day of giving is an initiative of Community First Foundation to celebrate and increase philanthropy through online giving.  FirstBank partners with Community First Foundation to create a $1 Million Incentive Fund, one of the largest gives-day incentive funds in the country. Every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the fund, which increases the value of every dollar donated.

“Strengthening communities to create an even playing field for all is what FirstBank stands for, and it’s a core component of our mantra ‘banking for good,’ ” said Joe Amato-Baril, Senior Vice President of Marketing at FirstBank. “That’s why we’re so thrilled to provide hands-on lessons in financial education for youth attending Young AmeriTowne. We know education is the single most impactful way we can help tomorrow’s generation achieve financial independence, and we’re grateful to Young Americans Center for Financial Education for helping us make that possible.”

You can join FirstBank in supporting hands-on financial literacy programs for youth!  Young Americans Center is participating in Colorado Gives Day, hoping to raise $20,000 to provide scholarships for low-income students.

Sponsor Spotlight: How FirstBank Supports Youth Financial Literacy

Janet Redwine Donate, Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Supporting the community is part of FirstBank’s DNA.  FirstBank has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist and contributed more than $60 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations (efirstbank.com).  As a result, we’re proud to highlight the partnership between FirstBank and Young Americans Center for Financial Education that allows youth to learn about banking and finance in …

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How to Share the Love this Holiday Season

Janet Redwine Events, Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

A proud partner of Young Americans Center for Financial Education, Schomp Automotive, is ramping up their support of youth financial education this holiday season, and there are three ways that you can participate, too!  Here’s how you can join the Share the Love Event: Share the Love at Schomp Subaru Support a great cause by purchasing or leasing at Schomp …

A child with many toys is shown

Three Easy Ways to Help Kids Give This Holiday Season

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Spark Change, Young AmeriTowne, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Kids are very generous.  So many YouthBiz owners donate a portion (or all!) of their profits to help others.  In Young AmeriTowne last year, students donated an average of $2.25 per student–pretty remarkable given that their salary is only $20-$30.  And in Spark Change, students collect change and donate their time, talent, and treasure to a nonprofit.  As giving it …

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Hands-on Financial Education Makes a Difference

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

When Skyline Vista Elementary School students visited Young AmeriTowne last spring, they were fortunate to have volunteers from JPMorgan Chase & Co. helping them out.  Melissa Bowman, Casey Karcich, Shanee Ceja, and Lesly Nicole, who all work at Chase, served as “business consultants” in AmeriTowne, helping students determine their pricing strategy, assisting the shop accountants, and reminding students about their schedules.  This …

Young AmeriTowne King Soopers Market Photo

Sponsor Spotlight: Life Lessons for Local Coloradoans

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Supporting local education programs is an important initiative for King Soopers.  According to their website, “Last year alone, [King Soopers] provided $34.2 million to support schools and education programs,” including hands-on financial education programs at Young Americans Center.  Today, we’re taking a look back to the beginnings of this relationship to see how King Soopers ensures that young Coloradoans can …

Towne Square with kids walk together in Cherry Creek

Sponsor Spotlight: How Fun Services Constructs a Local Economy in Young AmeriTowne

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

There’s a big movement to shop local these days, and for good reason.  According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a national nonprofit focused on research, policy, and partnerships that create healthy communities, “A growing body of research is proving something that many people already know: small-scale, locally owned businesses create communities that are more prosperous, entrepreneurial, connected, and generally …