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ARIZONA SAVES QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
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MAY 2009 EDITION
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New Board Members
Arizona Saves would like to welcome two new members to its board of directors...
Erik Walters
(Vice President, Arizona Compliance & Community Reinvestment - Comerica Bank)
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Kellie Manthe
(Senior Vice President, Market Development Manager - Bank of America)
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Arizona Saver Success Story
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Mary Clark
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Mary Clark is a nurse's assistant for the Foundation for Senior Living at the Adult Day Health Services Center in Phoenix. She attended the free financial education classes (provided by Arizona Saves in cooperation with the City of Phoenix) at the John F. Long Family Services Center in February of 2009. When asked what she learned, Mary replies, "I have definitely improved in managing my money since I enrolled in Arizona Saves' financial workshops." She says that taking control of her credit has been liberating. "I can now answer my phone without fearing a collector [is on the other end]."
Mary is the proud mother of three boys, Trivual (19), Kris (14), and Fred (8). She says her two youngest, "Kris and Fred [were] always wanting money for this or money for that." Feeling financially extended, she decided to educate her family about the benefits of good money management. "I saw the flier at work: 'A money saving class,' for not only me, but I could bring the boys to learn about saving as well."
The workshops have taught her the importance of having a good credit rating. She has since made it a priority to reduce her debt, attributing her effort to Arizona Saves' Taking Charge of Your Credit class. She admits she struggles to create a budget to fit her income, yet finds a way to pay her creditors on time regardless. "I'm not making any new debts, just getting a grip on the old [debt] with what [income] I have."
Mary's two sons, Kris and Fred, also benefited from money management lessons. They attended the Arizona Kids Saves classes while Mary was in the adult sessions. She says they learned the value of saving and continue to save their allowances today.
Mary recommends that everyone "take time with their family to attend all the workshops that Arizona Saves [has] to offer. They will not be disappointed. The information is worth it and it's free."
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| Special Thanks |
Arizona Saves would like to thank Comerica Bank for sponsoring the June series of financial education workshops in Phoenix's Sunnyslope neighborhood. They are the first financial institution to sponsor an Arizona Saves series of workshops. They also donated 5 iPods that will be raffled at the workshops! |
Savings Bonds for Children Continue!
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Thanks to a generous and private donor (who wishes to remain anonymous), Arizona Saves will continue to distribute $50 savings bonds to all children (ages 6-18) who complete a three part series of workshops in Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale in 2009.
Click here to register for our FREE classes. |
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Quarterly Newsletter
May 2009 Edition
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Dear Veronica,
Arizona Saves thanks you for your loyal support! The May 2009 edition of our electronic newsletter features success stories from our workshops and the Adopt-an-Agency program, the welcoming of two new board members, as well as recaps from Kids Save and Crisis Budget Train-the-Trainer events. Please enjoy!
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Satellite Program a Success: Arizona Kids Save Volunteers Make an Impact With Foster Kids!
 Arizona Saves would like to congratulate Bank of America volunteers for their outstanding service. They have provided 16 workshops to 98 teenagers at six different foster homes in the Phoenix area so far in 2009. Charles Stayton of Arizonans for Children applauds their service, stating, "the program is nothing short of an essential step in the road toward financial responsibility."
Stayton commends the volunteers for their efforts, training, and capacity to reach the children. He asserts that, "unlike many other programs that attempt to foster interaction and buy-in from the kids, our program succeeds and actually accomplishes this goal. It is a credit to Arizona Saves and [Bank of America volunteers] that this program is teaching kids how to think about money, rather than what to think about money."
Read Charles Stayton's letter of appreciation under Success Stories in the Press Room of Arizona Saves' website. (http://www.arizonasaves.org/elements/www.arizonasaves.org/file/Arizonans%20for%20Children%20Letter.pdf)
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Kids Save Train-the-Trainer
 Phoenix, AZ, April 22, 2009 - Arizona Saves and State Farm Insurance partnered to host the second Kids Save Train-the-Trainer event of the year. Thirty-one State Farm employees were certified to instruct Kids Save workshops for Arizona Saves. These 31 certified volunteers are equipped to teach Arizona Saves' dynamic three-part financial education series to three different age groups.
State Farm volunteers will be filling volunteer needs at currently scheduled Arizona Saves workshops in partnership with the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. They will also use the training to bring personal finance lessons into classrooms in the communities they serve.
 The attendees broke out into simulated classroom sessions where they learned classroom management techniques from experienced volunteers. Michelle O'Neill (Lynk Software) directed the 6 to 8 year old class, Lauren Brandt (Volunteer Program Manager & Adult Education Coordinator at Arizona Saves) taught the 9 to 12 year old class, and Sheila Henson (Bank of America) and Josh Mayer (Bank of America) instructed the teenage class.
The Kids Save classes teach children how to identify "wants" vs. "needs," set savings goals, create a budget, track their spending, and use credit wisely. Children learn basic skills, the importance of saving, and good money management. The Kids Save curriculum applies the same financial principles as the adult workshops, using a more age-appropriate curriculum, and encourages parents and children to discuss what they've learned at home.
Arizona Saves used the event to unveil the 2009 curriculum and the new Kids Save materials which have been drastically improved for efficiency and structure based on feedback from volunteers. The latest materials (which include the class kit, binder, and store) were a big hit, receiving praise for being well organized and prepared.
 Scottsdale, AZ, February 21, 2009 - The first Kids Save Train-the-Trainer event of the year was held on February 21st, 2009, at the Vista Del Camino Community Center (7700 E. Roosevelt St., Scottsdale, AZ 85257) in Scottsdale. Jennifer Quillin and Veronica Loper (Americorps VISTA at Arizona Saves) trained 31 new volunteers in the Kids Save curriculum. Regular volunteers Jessie Hall (Bank of America), Sarah Rupke (Meridian Bank), Sheila Henson, and Josh Mayer facilitated the simulated classroom breakout sessions. |
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Crisis Budget Train-the-Trainer
Tucson, AZ, March 7, 2009 - The Pima County Foreclosure Prevention Coalition partnered with Arizona Saves to host a Crisis Budget Train-the-Trainer workshop in Tucson, AZ.
Arizona Saves' Crisis Budget program was designed in response to the thousands of families facing foreclosure in the state. The purpose of the Tucson Crisis Budget Train-the-Trainer workshop is to outfit community members with the tools and resources to assist families facing financial crisis.
 At the training event in Tucson, 24 volunteers were certified to teach Crisis Budget workshops. The attendees learned strategies to assist Pima County families to take control of their financial situations and prepare them to talk with their lenders and with HUD-certified housing counselors.
The next Crisis Budget Train-the-Trainer events will be held in the Phoenix area this summer and in the Gilbert area this fall. The curriculum is being revised to incorporate the new Arizona Foreclosure Information Workbook, a tool for homeowners to help themselves through the foreclosure process. The training will also include a revised curriculum aimed at helping non-homeowners facing financial crises. If you would like to attend the training, please contact Jennifer Quillin (jquillin@arizonasaves.org).
Arizona Saves thanks Betty Villegas and Martha Martin of the Community Development and Neighborhood Conservation Department of Pima County, Linda Leatherman (Pima County's Faith Based and Community Initiatives Coordinator), and Cheri Horbacz (Don't Borrow Trouble) for coordinating this event.
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Google Tip Jar (http://www.google.com/tipjar/)
 Google has launched a new service called the Tip Jar which offers money saving advice from the online community. Approximately 5,000 tips have been submitted in twelve discussion topics providing ways to save through curbing spending, tracking expenses, and finding discounts. The topics range from how to save on technology, food, and health to limiting expenses at work, home, and while on vacation.
The Tip Jar is a responsive creation to the current economic recession. It collects scattered online money saving information and organizes it into one forum, using Google Moderator to categorize and rate the advice based on consumer feedback. America Saves, an affiliate of Arizona Saves, is one of ten organizations that helped launch the site by offering about 60 of the original tips to the jar.
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Arizona Saves Welcomes New Staff Member
Arizona Saves is proud to welcome Chad Andersen-Broker to the staff as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA). Chad is an Anishinaabe Native American from the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota. He is widely traveled and has lived in England, Germany, the Philippines, and Malaysia. He was exposed to AmeriCorps by his college roommate who became a VISTA and was involved with the Hope Community Center in South Minneapolis. He became inspired to provide service by witnessing the pride and satisfaction that service brings.
About one year ago, Chad found himself in Los Angeles wondering what's next. He logged on to the AmeriCorps website to do some research as to the opportunities in Arizona. He found Arizona Saves and emailed our executive director Patrick Jordan. Patrick promptly replied and requested an interview with Chad. It quickly became apparent that his skills and personality were a perfect fit for Arizona Saves. Patrick then contacted the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona to get the ball rolling on making him our new VISTA. As a VISTA, he has pledged to work for a small monthly stipend and will be a full-time staff member at Arizona Saves. As our VISTA, his responsibilities include media management, the Arizona Saves newsletter, volunteer recruitment and support for our Kids Saves and Adult programs. We are very happy to have him and look forward to his selfless service to our organization. Please welcome Chad to the Arizona Saves team. He can be reached at 602-246-3507 or candersen@arizonasaves.org.
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| Thank you so much for your continued support for Arizona Saves! If you have any suggestions for future articles, are interested in volunteering, would like to attend one of our workshops, or would like more information about the cause, please feel free to contact me at candersen@arizonasaves.org (602)246-3507.
Sincerely,
Chad Andersen-Broker
AmeriCorps* VISTA
Arizona Saves |
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Arizona Saves Mission
Arizona Saves empowers Arizonans to build sustainable self-sufficiency by advancing healthy money management through education, saving, debt reduction, and asset building.We provide financial education, motivational workshops, financial coaching, and access to no-fee saving accounts to all Arizonans, particularly low- to moderate-income families and kids, through partnerships with community development and non-profit organizations, financial institutions and counseling services, faith-based organizations, government entities, and employers.
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Arizona Saves | 6633 N. Black Canyon Hwy | 2nd Floor | Phoenix | AZ | 85015
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