AmeriTowne On the Road Container Shop

Life Skills in Northern Colorado

Janet RedwineYoung AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

The signature AmeriTowne On the Road program visits Greeley for the next two weeks, serving 550 students from throughout the northern Colorado region.  Special guests, including the Mayor of Greeley and representatives from local Presenting Sponsor Community Banks of Colorado, helped kick-off this visit by welcoming students from Ann K. Heiman Elementary on Wednesday, February 5. Mirroring the beloved Young …

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I Learned it in Young AmeriTowne: JD Schneider, Associate, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

Janet RedwineGet Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

  Young AmeriTowne turns 30 years old this year!  More than half a million youth have gained a hands-on lesson in free enterprise—a generation of young people.  To celebrate this accomplishment, we’re highlighting local business leaders who participated in AmeriTowne when they were kids.  Today, meet JD Schneider, Associate at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP and former Bank President in AmeriTowne. …

Depositing $2,785.50 in the bank is exciting no matter how old you are. And if you’ve worked to collect all of the funds yourself, you might be so excited that you couldn’t possibly sit still! FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS MOLLY AND TOMAS ORGANIZE BAGS OF CHANGE TO DEPOSIT AT YOUNG AMERICANS BANK THROUGH THE SPARK CHANGE PROGRAM. This was the case last Thursday as fourth grade students from Graland Country Day School skipped into Young Americans Bank to make a deposit as part of the Spark Change program. Spark Change is a K-8 curriculum that provides a hands-on lesson in philanthropy and leadership as students collect change and then donate their time and talent to local causes. Student leaders have worked on the program throughout the fall, researching causes and collecting change, and their deposit means they are nearing the end. “We have just one more week to go,” said Library Coordinator and program head Linda Sears who supervised the deposit. Students Molly, Tomas, Emory, and Jacob were on-hand to help. Service learning is important to Graland, a private Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade school in Denver. According to its website, “Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.” Ms. Sears echoed this mission, saying, “We’ve been doing the Spark Change program for years because we want to help our community. It’s important for all students.” Spark Change provides a hands-on approach to philanthropy. “I did some extra chores at my house to help earn more money,” said nine-year-old Molly. “And I brought in $41–just me!” Tomas raised $1,000 on a Go Fund Me site that his dad helped him set up. Jacob went into every classroom with posters and information so the school would know what the change drive was all about. And next week, the group plans to picket the “Kiss ‘N Go” drop off line at school to raise even more. TOMAS, JACOB, AND EMORY PEER INTO THE YOUNG AMERICANS BANK COIN MACHINE AS PROGRAM LEADER LINDA SEARS, LIBRARY COORDINATOR AT GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, OBSERVES. Although the group hasn’t narrowed down their nonprofits just yet, they have decided to dedicate their funds to help the environment, to the homeless, and to health–one third to each. “It feels really good to know that we’re helping people and our earth,” said Tomas. Morgan Levy, Assistant Vice President at Young Americans Bank, assisted the group with their deposit, spending most of the time at the change machine. Although she’s helped hundreds of young people with their deposits, this day was particularly memorable. “It’s really fun to get to see how much the students bring in through Spark Change,” she said. “And it’s inspiring, too–change really all adds up!” To learn more about Spark Change or to introduce this program to your students, contact Program Coordinator Kelsie Byrd at kbyrd@yacenter.org.

Graland Students Spark Change

Janet RedwinePrograms, Spark Change Leave a Comment

Depositing $2,785.50 in the bank is exciting no matter how old you are.  And if you’ve worked to collect all of the funds yourself, you might be so excited that you couldn’t possibly sit still! This was the case last Thursday as fourth grade students from Graland Country Day School skipped into Young Americans Bank to make a deposit as …

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How to Share the Love this Holiday Season

Janet RedwineEvents, 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 …

2019-20 Youth Advisory Board Photo

Meet a Board Member…or two! Introducing our Youth Advisory Board CoChairs

Janet RedwineGeneral, Get Involved Leave a Comment

The Youth Advisory Board at Young Americans Center for Financial Education provides a valuable youth perspective to the organization while youth gain experience in leadership, business, and philanthropy.  Each year, two Co-Chairs lead the Board by planning and running meetings, setting annual goals, and checking in regularly with staff.  They also help emcee the annual Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars gala! …

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Meet a Board Member: Tamara Doi Beck, Senior Vice President and Director, Public Funds & Taft-Hartley Plans at Northern Trust Asset Management

Janet RedwineBank, Get Involved 3 Comments

This month, Young Americans Center for Financial Education would like to introduce someone who has been involved with hands-on financial education for years: current Young Americans Center Board Member and former Young Americans Bank customer, Tamara Doi Beck. Growing up in north Denver, Tamara Doi Beck was one Young Americans Bank’s first customers when it opened in 1987.  Tamara remembers bringing her …

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Announcing: MoneyWi$er Financial Innovation Awards

Janet RedwineGeneral Leave a Comment

The Office of the Colorado Attorney General, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Education, is seeking applications from students, teachers, schools and school districts for The MoneyWi$er Financial Innovation Awards! The awards will recognize distinguished school districts, schools and individuals who prioritized personal finance education throughout their school and community. In addition to statewide recognition for the awards, honorees …