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Components of the
program include:
· Teen Personal
Finance Guide — Includes practical tips and
activities to help teens learn the important skills
of balancing a checkbook, creating a budget and
investing for college and retirement. The guide
also provides basic entrepreneurial information for
teens interested in starting businesses.
· Facilitator’s
Guide — Contains basic financial concepts that Club
staff and volunteers can use to help teens
understand the benefits of effective money
management. Easy-to-implement small-group
activities that are typically completed in less than
an hour supplement and reinforce the information in
the Teen Personal Finance Guide.
· Money Matters Web
site — An interactive, engaging tool that teen
program participants can use to balance a checkbook,
make budgeting and investment decisions and learn
about starting a business. The site also features a
saving and financial aid calculator to help teens
plan for college. This secure Web site launched in
Spring 2004 at
http://moneymatters.bgca.net.
· Schwab Employee
Volunteer Program — An opportunity for Schwab
professionals to volunteer at Clubs and share their
financial expertise with teenage Club members and
their families. Employees will be encouraged to
participate through a variety of ongoing
communications.
· Money Matters Awards —
Presented to youth who complete the entire
curriculum. The achievements of each participant
will be recognized with a certificate of completion,
and winners will also be selected based on their
performance. Prizes are to be given out according
to age group: college scholarships for the 16-18
year old winners, and MP3 players for the 13-15 year
old winners.
Last year, the Boys &
Girls Club of America set a goal of teaching
financial literacy skills to over 86,000 teenagers
across the country. Teens have already commented
that the program has influenced them to become more
careful and responsible with money, open and start a
savings account and learn how to budget.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a National Family
Week partner, comprises a national network of more
than 3,900 neighborhood-based facilities annually
serving some 4.6 million young people, primarily
from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as “The
Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide
guidance-oriented character development programs on
a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted
by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls
Club programs emphasize character and leadership
development, education and career development,
health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness
and recreation. Click
to view site. |