Greenwich United Way Launches New Champions Program to Promote Financial Literacy

Greenwich United Way launched a financial literacy program, a six-week pilot course called Finance Champions at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich on Thursday, November 1. The program is modeled after the Greenwich United Way Reading Champions reading fluency program and aims to provide local youth with the required education on personal finance. Finance Champions is sponsored in part by U.S. Trust and targets a pre-teen audience. Students for the pilot were selected by the Boys & Girls Club based on need and interest.

"The idea for the program came in response to a 2017 report that determined Connecticut is failing at teaching its public-school students about financial literacy," said Greenwich United Way CEO, David Rabin. He continued, "This is not math tutoring. We're giving kids skills that they need to better understand earning money, spending money, and giving money, important skills that will enable them to help their families and peers. Greenwich residents look to us to fix issues that negatively impact our community and our job is to first find those issues then work collaboratively to fund solutions". 

Five middle-school students took on the role of Financial Planners and were paired with five trained Greenwich Junior United Way (GJrUW) teen volunteers from area high schools. These teens will use a curriculum to teach students finance fundamentals and act as clients seeking help in money management. Each student will have six weeks to achieve a savings up to $40, which will go toward spending, purchases, philanthropy, and savings. "We’re talking real money here,” said Greenwich United Way Board Member Nancy Kail at the program launch. 

In December, participants will present their financial plans and results to community members during a closing ceremony. If they meet their goals, an anonymous donor will match the money they set aside for savings and donations. "What makes this program unique is that these students are using real money and have an added incentive", explained Kail, "When designing this program we also wanted to make sure to represent the importance of community investment and philanthropy which is as important as saving and smart spending".  

Please visit Greenwich United Way online to learn more about Champions Programs (greenwichunitedway.org) or contact Program Coordinator, Cecile Meunier (cmeunier@greenwichunitedway.org).