Officers and Executive Committee

 

 

 

Arizona Saves thanks you for your loyal support! The September 2009 edition of our electronic newsletter features the beta run of our Investment Workshops and a success story from our Adopt-an-Agency program. Please enjoy!

 

Phoenix, AZ - August 6, 2009 - The Bank of America Charitable Foundation donated $75,000 to Arizona Saves to support financial education for adults and children throughout the state of Arizona. Kellie Manthe, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Bank of America, stated, "Our donation will help provide the education needed to empower Arizonans to become financially stable and self-sufficient." Manthe joined Arizona Saves' board of directors in August.
 
In addition to the cash donation, 50 Bank of America employees have volunteered over 600 hours of service instructing Arizona Saves classes since 2008. They have facilitated financial education workshops at ten foster homes in the greater Phoenix area. Regular volunteers Robert Connelly, Sheila Henson, Josh Mayer, and Brooks St. John-Smith are currently assisting in improving the teen portion of the organization's financial education curriculum. The updated version will include a more robust section on credit and is scheduled for release in 2010.
 
"Bank of America and its employees have been instrumental in assisting Arizona Saves deliver its financial education workshops to the public," said Patrick Jordan, Executive Director at Arizona Saves. "Their support, including the Neighborhood Builder Award in 2006 and 2007, has helped the agency expand its services by more than one hundred percent since then." Bank of America Arizona is focused on issues affecting the working poor, such as housing, financial education, affordable childcare and education programs which increase peoples' knowledge and work/life skill sets which provide a positive pathway to economic self-sufficiency.
 
Visit Arizona Saves' website to read the full version of the press release: (http://www.arizonasaves.org/elements/www.arizonasaves.org/file/06%20Aug%202009%20-%20Bank%20of%20America%20Grants%20$75,000%20to%20Arizona%20Saves.doc)

 

Arizona Saves piloted its new series of investment workshops in August, 2009. The series was instructed by volunteers Russell Ritter and Bob Burger at the Goodwill of Central Arizona offices in Phoenix. A select audience comprised of Arizona Saves board members, volunteer instructors, and staff participated in the workshops and provided feedback to improve the curriculum.
 
The first investment series that will be open to the public is scheduled for 2010. It is intended for individuals and families who have little to no debt and an ample amount of money saved in an emergency fund. Participants who attend all three classes in a series will receive a free consultation with an investor. 
 
The workshops provide an introduction to investing, encourage the participants to establish long-term financial goals, and teach them how to apply the basic concepts of investing to reach those goals. The curriculum was developed by volunteers Lauren Brandt, Bob Burger, Elwyne Moore, Russell Ritter, and Richard Victor. Brandt was formerly the volunteer manager at Arizona Saves and continues to donate her time to the organization today. 
 

Phoenix, AZ - August 14, 2009 - The Wells Fargo Foundation on behalf of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage approved a $10,000 grant for Arizona Saves' Crisis Budgeting Program. This grant was matched by $10,000 in funds from the local Wells Fargo offices. In addition, $10,000 was awarded to fund financial education workshops for adults for a total of $30,000 donated in the Phoenix area in 2009. 
 
The $20,000 allocated to the Crisis Budgeting Program will support free workshops showing families at risk for foreclosure how to create new budgets that make it possible for them to stay in their homes. Patrick Jordan, Executive Director at Arizona Saves, said, "These funds are critical to our residents. Every foreclosure we can avoid helps stabilize our neighborhoods and our overall economy." Wells Fargo funding has helped support crisis budget workshops for more than 450 individuals so far this year. 
 
At the workshops, families are connected with a foreclosure specialist from a HUD certified housing counseling agency. Specialists teach the families how to establish financial priorities and temporarily modify their budgets in order to withstand financial crisis and prevent foreclosure. Dave Howell, Vice President of Community & Government Relations at Wells Fargo, said, "We are proud to partner with Arizona Saves and their Crisis Budgeting Program so that more people can remain in their homes."

 

Visit Arizona Saves' website to read the full version of the press release: (http://www.arizonasaves.org/elements/www.arizonasaves.org/file/14%20Aug%202009%20-%20Wells%20Fargo%20Grants%20$30,000%20to%20Arizona%20Saves.doc)

 

Native American Connections is hosting Arizona Saves' Building a Better Budget class for the tenants of its housing complexes on Saturday, September 19th, 2009. Arizona Saves volunteers Norma Moore and Catheryn Eisaman will be instructing at the Coral Canyon Apartments in Phoenix. Renters of the organization's housing properties who attend the class will be given a one time pardon from their five day eviction notice for a late rent payment.  
 
Native American Connections started in 1972 as a substance abuse recovery program for Native American men. It has since expanded its reach to offer affordable housing and behavioral health services affecting the lives of more than 5,000 people per year. The organization uses a series of culturally appropriate services to help individuals and families move from homelessness to homeownership.
 
The workshop was established through Arizona Saves' Adopt-an-Agency program, which connects community organizations seeking financial education with Arizona Saves volunteer instructors. Organizations interested in facilitating a class or series of classes can submit an application.
 

 

PBS aired a real-life money management special on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009, called "Your Life, Your Money." The special provided financial advice for young adults and encouraged them to take control of their financial situation. It covered the topics of banking, budgeting, credit, investing, insurance, and self-employment. It was hosted by Donald Faison from the TV show "Scrubs," and featured Russell Simmons, co-founder of the music label Def Jam. Click Here to watch the episode online.
 

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. 

 
Chad Andersen-Broker

AmeriCorps*VISTA 
Arizona Saves