Contact: Martha Thomas Larson
Phone: 336-373-4559

Financial Literacy Program for Teens Introduced May 19

GREENSBORO, NC -- (May 14, 2010) -- The Greensboro Public Library and NC A&T State University are hosting a reception 5-7 pm Wednesday, May 19, in room 132 of the university's Craig Hall to introduce Future Cents, a series of interactive financial workshops for youth and their parents. The reception and workshops are free and open to the public.

A total of eight core workshops will be conducted this summer by groups who are partnering with Future Cents. An online component of the program includes a website that offers resources as well as content unique to the Future Cents curriculum. A financial consultant will also provide individual consultations to participants as a follow-up to the workshops.

The first workshop, "Credit 101 for Teens," is from 10 am to 12 noon Saturday, June 12, at the Central Library, 219 N. Church St., and will be conducted by April Gonzalez of the Small Business Administration. At the same time, participants' parents are invited to a separate class, “Understanding Your Credit Report,” at the Greensboro Cultural Center Board Room, 200 N. Davie St.

According to Greensboro Public Library's business librarian Martha Larson, this program came about because of a community need for financial literacy among teenagers. “What we have heard from teachers in the community is that many middle- and high-schoolers do not know even the basic concepts in banking and money management,” she said. “We will be using the methods of learning that are most appealing to young people to change that.”

“We want this program to provide young people with the tools they need to realize the best future possible," Larson adds. "Helping them learn how to handle money is a big part of that."

The program is funded by a $96,500 grant from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA regulates all securities firms doing business in the United States. The grant program, administered by the American Library Association, is funded by the proceeds of fines for wrongdoing that have been levied by FINRA against securities firms.

NC A&T State University is lending to the program both the financial expertise of its faculty and students in the economics and financial departments and the university’s technology in its Stock Trading room. Other community partners in the project include: East Market Street Development Corp., Channel 13, Greensboro Youth Council, YMCA, WFMY-TV, and McDonald’s Corp.

For more information, visit www.myfuturecents.com.

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