International Towne Refresher Video

Teacher Orientation and refresher videos provide critical information about International Towne program mechanics and classroom materials.  A short refresher webinar is recommended for teachers who have participated previously in International Towne.  Teachers who have never participated in International Towne should plan to join a Teacher Orientation. Watch the 2019-20 Refresher Video
A Towne bank teller assists another participant with manner others

Sponsor Spotlight: JJP Family Foundation Involves All Learners in Experiential Education

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

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin Both anecdotal and research-based evidence suggests that students learn best when they experience a concept for themselves.  The Young AmeriTowne and International Towne programs do just that in the field of financial education.  They allow elementary and middle school students to open their own …

In Young AmeriTowne, students discover philanthropy by thinking about how they can share their time, talent and treasure. Today, we’re highlighting a proud partner of Young Americans Center for Financial Education that has shared time, talent and treasure with young learners for nearly three decades: Empower .

Empower Retirement first became involved with Young Americans Center near the very start of the Young AmeriTowne program in 1991.  Over the next 28 years, Empower sent thousands of low-income students to Young AmeriTowne or International Towne and taught thousands more the basics of financial education through Money Matters classes.  This year, Young Americans Center is thrilled to have Empower as a supporter at the 2019 Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition and gala fundraiser.

The driving force behind Empower’s community impact is a focus on ACT: associates, community, together. According to the Empower website , “Our ACT Program is designed to amplify the commitment of each associate through matching their donations, funding volunteer time and supporting collaborative philanthropy.”

 
EMPOWER VOLUNTEER “SUPER HEROES” HELPED PREPARE YOUNG AMERITOWNE FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, INCLUDING YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER BOARD MEMBER STEPHANIE BENDRICK.

This focus has enabled Empower to have a direct impact on youth through volunteer time in programs.  In 2018 alone, 24 Empower volunteers donated 127 hours by serving as business consultants in Young AmeriTowne or International Towne, preparing the physical Towne spaces for the start of a new school year, and providing feedback as part of a YouthBiz StartUp pitch competition judging panel.

Leading this volunteer effort is Stephanie Bendrick, Vice President, Transformation and Innovation at Empower and Member of the Young Americans Center Board of Directors.  In particular, Ms. Bendrick’s leadership on the Board has helped guide technology upgrades throughout the organization and has helped determine the strategic direction of Young Americans Center as a whole.  For Ms. Bendrick, “Serving on the Board is a way to provide the next generation with knowledge to budget, save and obtain a secure financial future.”

The impact of Empower is extraordinary.  Since 1991, 471,318 youth have participated in Young AmeriTowne where they gained a hands-on lesson in free enterprise that prepared them for life-long financial success. Thank you Empower for your continued commitment to today’s young learners!

Sponsor Spotlight: Empower shares time, talent, and treasure with young learners

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

In Young AmeriTowne, students discover philanthropy by thinking about how they can share their time, talent and treasure. Today, we’re highlighting a proud partner of Young Americans Center for Financial Education that has shared time, talent and treasure with young learners for nearly three decades: Empower. Empower Retirement first became involved with Young Americans Center near the very start of the …

Market students at work in Young AmeriTowne

Sponsor Spotlight: Lifelong lessons delivered by CliftonLarsonAllen Foundation

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

Each year, the Send-a-School Project affords low-income schools an opportunity to participate in the Young AmeriTowne and International Towne educational programs.  A valuable partner in this work is CliftonLarsonAllen Foundation, which provided scholarship funds for 504 deserving students last year. Why is this learning so valuable?  Researchers are able to demonstrate that financial literacy “reduces the likelihood of being financially fragile …

Students outside YA with Yellow School Bus

Sponsor Spotlight: Managing money the right way, thanks to Adolph Coors Foundation

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

Imagine a Colorado where every youth, regardless of background, knows how to earn, make and manage his or her money wisely.  Adolph Coors Foundation shares this vision through its support of hands-on financial education at Young Americans Center. Essential to Young Americans Center is the belief that children learn best when they are doing. In Young AmeriTowne, fifth graders hold a …

Finance Minister Paperwork in International Towne Photo

Sponsor Spotlight: Eide Bailly helps students stay on track at Young Americans Center

Janet Redwine International Towne, Programs, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Every good business person knows that keeping track of money is important.  Thanks to Eide Bailly, students learn this lesson at an early age in Young AmeriTowne and International Towne, and they do it in a hands-on way! In Young AmeriTowne, Accountants manage the money in each shop.  In addition to ensuring each of their citizens receives a physical paycheck, …

Many students in International Towne exchange checks

Sponsor Spotlight: Aegon Transamerica Foundation Prepares Today’s Youth

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

A recent report by the Federal Reserve Board finds that four in 10 American families are financially fragile: unable to meet a $400 emergency without going into debt. But there is hope!  Researchers studying financial fragility demonstrate that financial literacy “reduces the likelihood of being financially fragile by more than six percentage points…above and beyond the effects of educational achievement.” …

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 …

Campers at RYOB Summer Camp

Top five reasons to send your child to Young Americans Center Summer Camps

Mary Tallerday-Smith Classes + Camps, Events, International Towne, Programs, Spark Change, Young AmeriTowne, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Summer will be here before we know it, which means warmer days, vacations, and summer camps for your children!  Keep reading for the top five reasons you should consider sending your child to a Summer Camp at Young Americans Center for Financial Education this year.  And don’t just take our word for it–see what last year’s campers had to say …

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Sponsor Spotlight: Bank of the West helps kids create healthy financial habits

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

“Nearly a third of young adults in a recent study were found to be “financially precarious” because they had poor financial literacy and lacked money management skills and income stability.” – ScienceDaily, citing a study by researchers at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The individuals in this study will likely face a lifetime of financial hardship.  The results of the …