MANCHESTER, NH – The Granite YMCA announced today that Citizens Bank will be providing $15,000 to support the Financial Health and Wellness curriculum for the Y-STAY, Teen Center, and Power Scholars Academy programs.
YMCA STAY, offered at Parkside, Hillside, McLaughlin, and Southside middle schools, provides direct and indirect services to more than 100 at-risk students who may need additional help to be successful in school due to a variety of factors. The program provides a broad range of services including academic support, mentoring, time management, and healthy behaviors and aids the ongoing efforts to provide a strong and healthy foundation for Manchester youth and teens.
“The youth and teens in these programs have a variety of needs for themselves and their families, and teaching them to manage money provides them with a valuable foundation for them to use now and in the future,” commented Michele Sheppard, COO of The Granite YMCA. “This grant is an important part of expanding our curriculum and a further reflection of Citizens Banks’ lasting commitment to improving our communities and investing in the future of our youth.”
Power Scholars Academy Camp is a six week, full day summer program serving over 125 youth entering grades 7-9. Using the YMCA Power Scholars Achievement Gap model, this program helps mitigate summer learning loss to inner-city students. In addition to the subject areas of math and literacy, an expanded budget unit was added to the summer 2018 curriculum. Students learned about the different financial vehicles such as financial loans, ATM transactions, check writing, and savings and checking deposits thanks to the generosity of Citizens Bank staff volunteering their time to teach the financial literacy class.
“We believe that investing in the communities where we live and work enriches us all. That is what Citizens Helping Citizens is all about,” said Joe Carelli, President, Citizens Bank, New Hampshire & Vermont. “By continuing our partnership with The Granite YMCA on their Financial Health and Wellness Program, we are ensuring that hundreds of Manchester students get access to resources and the education they need to lead financially healthy and independent lives, said Carelli.”
The Center for Youth and Teen Leadership provides a safe space for teens to go when school is not in session. Teens participate in activities and games and get assistance with homework. The teen center has a strong focus on the YMCA’s four core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility.
The funds from this contribution in addition to staff volunteerism will allow The Granite YMCA to expand current financial literacy offerings across all three programs. Lesson plans will specifically teach students responsible money management, goal setting, need over want, and self-management. Youth and teens will receive hands-on experience with creating and maintaining a budget, shopping at a local grocery store, using in house incentive stores to budget, and learning the value of decision-making purchases.
