Program educates on importance of financial responsibility
HOUSTON (August 23, 2010) – A new generation will learn the value of a dollar as HoustonWorks USA launches the Dollar Wi$e Initiative at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 at the HoustonWorks USA Annex located at 1906 Cochran. The Dollar Wi$e Initiative, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Bank of America, educates at-risk youth to be financially literate with lessons in money management.
“We are very excited to be working with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Bank of America on financial literacy,” Larry V. Green, Esq., CEO, HoustonWorks USA, said. “It is a necessary part of growing up to learn how to manage your money and by teaching our youth basic concepts of financial responsibility, we will provide them with the knowledge, so in the future, they will be free from higher interest rates or excess fees on bank accounts.”
The kick-off will include a check presentation for $2,500 from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Dollar Wi$e participants are currently receiving youth services from HoustonWorks USA, including members of YouthBuild Houston – an education and training program for high school dropouts. Volunteers from Bank of America and other financial organizations tutor students on making better money choices and building a budget and investing that “first pay check.”
“The Conference of Mayors’ Dollar Wi$e Summer Youth Campaign is pleased to support the efforts of Mayor Parker and HoustonWorks USA,” Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said. “Teaching young people how to save their hard earned dollars is equally important and can impact their financial habits for rest of their lives.”
Mark Cueva, Director of the Mayor’s Office Education Initiatives Division, will represent Mayor Parker at the kick-off. Representatives from the conference, Bank of America, and the offices of Texas State Representative Jessica Cristina Farrar and Texas State Senator Mario Gallegos are also scheduled to be in attendance.
About HoustonWorks USA:
Founded in 1984, HoustonWorks USA is the leading provider of services focusing on job placement, continuing education and vocational training. Serving more than 1 million annually, HoustonWorks USA provides job seekers with a variety of workshops including job search techniques, interviewing skills and resume writing, or use of the resource library with Internet access and postings of local, state and national job openings. Training is also available in career fields such as healthcare, business, computers and education. HoustonWorks USA manages several of the largest Workforce Solutions offices in Houston and the surrounding region for the Houston Galveston Area Council. These offices offer a wide range of services for job seekers as well as employers looking for trained workers. HoustonWorks also provides numerous youth programs including internships, scholarships, summits and summer camps. HoustonWorks is a 501(c) 3, tax-exempt organization. Visit www.houstonworks.org for additional information.
###