Goal

Help build a Colorado where every student, regardless of background, knows how to earn, make and manage money wisely.

Four in ten Americans can’t cover a $400 unexpected expense—less than a set of safe tires or a doctor visit–without going into debt: putting it on a credit card they can’t pay off at the end of the month, or even resorting to a payday loans. Source: Federal Reserve Board, May 2018

Here in Colorado, 19% of Colorado households are underbanked and 27% of families have no savings at all. Source: Prosperity Now Scorecard August 2018

Financial literacy does make a difference. Researchers are able to demonstrate that financial literacy “reduces the likelihood of being financially fragile by more than 6 percentage points…above and beyond the effects of educational achievement.” Source NEFE July 2018

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 pioneer in financial education for youth, Young Americans’ hands-on approach to teaching personal finance, economics and business was embraced by parents and teachers 25 years before “financial literacy” was defined on a national level, and we remain at the forefront of the field. We believe that providing youth with real world skills and career development opportunities will lead to financial independence for individuals and families, and ultimately provide strong economic development opportunities for communities.

Young Americans works with all schools but particularly strives to build relationships with schools and schools districts serving significant numbers of children from low-income families.

Impact

In 2019, Young Americans spent $231,022 to fund 109 low income schools and 8,603 deserving students.

Get Involved

We’d love to tell you more about how you can support this program, which meets CRA investment eligibility requirements. Read an overview, or contact Betsy Sklar at bsklar@yacenter.org or 303-320-3245.