Student Deposit to First Bank in Young AmeriTowne. One in a red hoodie hands a teller with a flower in her hair cash.

Sponsor Spotlight: FirstBank Doing Good in Colorado Communities, Sponsors 11th Annual Colorado Gives Day

Chris O'ReillyGet Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Moving through the fall into the winter season naturally stirs a time of reflection. It has been an incomparable year with many around the world facing innumerable challenges. While these obstacles may seem insurmountable, we have seen by leveraging a renewed focus on collective community support we can and are making difference. Young Americans Center for Financial Education is grateful for the treasured partnership with FirstBank and for their exemplification of steadfast leadership and commitment to community service. In March, FirstBank pushed its mantra of “banking for …

2020 CO Gives Day Banner with First Bank Logo Iconography

Support Hands-on Financial Education on Colorado Gives Day

Janet RedwineEvents Leave a Comment

Young Americans Center for Financial Education invites Coloradans to support hands-on financial education programs for youth by donating on Colorado Gives Day, December 8, 2020.  This type of education is needed now more than ever! We believe that providing youth with hands-on programs and real-life skills, together with career development opportunities will lead to: financially-independent individuals; financially-independent families; economic development; and strong communities. With no state mandate …

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 RedwineDonate, 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 …

Colorado Gives Day First Bank Banner Iconography

Deliver A Hands-on Lesson in Financial Education on Colorado Gives Day

Janet RedwineEvents Leave a Comment

Coloradans can give the gift of financial literacy to Colorado’s young people by donating to Young Americans Center for Financial Education on Colorado Gives Day!  Donations give students of every background the opportunity to gain “money smarts for kids and money skills for life” at hands-on real-life programs like Young AmeriTowne, YouthBiz for young entrepreneurs, and International Towne. There are …

Students Donating in Station at YAT

Sponsor Spotlight: Giving is for kids, too, thanks to Community First Foundation

Janet RedwineEvents, Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

This is the time of year when we think about giving back to our communities.  Thanks to Community First Foundation, young people can actively participate in philanthropy themselves! According to its website, Community First Foundation was founded in 1975 as Lutheran Medical Center Foundation.  The name has changed over the years, but the mission to “increase generosity and power community …

Happy Bank Customer at AmeriTowne Bank

Sponsor Spotlight: Banking for Good

Janet RedwineYoung AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Young Americans Center for Financial Education exists to provide hands-on experiences in financial literacy to young people.  An important partner in this work is FirstBank, which has supported youth financial literacy since 2005. FirstBank’s supports a the bank at Young AmeriTowne Belmar.  Students can customize their own FirstBank business cards, pass out FirstBank debit card sleeves, count-out FirstBank dollars, write …