The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association (ALA) have again awarded Chesterfield County Public Library (CCPL), in partnership with the Friends of Chesterfield County Public Library, a $78,280 financial literacy grant to fund F.U.N. @ CCPL (Families Understanding Numbers). CCPL is one of 17 libraries nationwide to be selected to share the $1.19 million grant funding as part of the national “Smart investing@your library®” initiative.
F.U.N. @ CCPL focuses on the intergenerational transfer of financial learning between grandchildren and the grandparents who have an influential or primary role in raising them.
Partnering with the Chesterfield County Office of the Senior Advocate, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and the Chesterfield County Public Schools, this program will equip these “grandfamilies” with financial literacy skills, a toolkit to address pressing immediate needs, and a solid foundation for long term-financial health.
Community members may join monthly F.U.N. @ CCPL classes and ongoing mini-workshops throughout the course of the 2-year project. CCPL librarians will provide interactive instruction on topics like developing a financial plan, setting financial goals, saving, reducing debt, avoiding fraud and identity theft, investment fundamentals, paying for college, retirement savings, managing health care costs, and basic consumer economics education. The approach is targeted to the whole family with breakout activities for various age groups. A light meal or snack will be provided at every class and program participants will have the opportunity to attend relevant field trips. Grant funds will also be used to enhance CCPL’s books and materials on basic money management, investment, and consumerism.
Session I will begin in May, 2014 and will end in January, 2015. Session II will begin in April, 2015 and
will end in January, 2016. For more information, including registration, dates and times, check CCPL’s web site (library.chesterfield.gov) or call Elaine DeVoss at 804-706-2607.
Smart investing@your library® is a partnership between the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The program supports public libraries across the country in their efforts to meet financial education needs at the local level.
The Reference and User Services Association is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services and collection materials they need.
Established in 1876, the American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world. It strives to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.
FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business—from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms, writing rules, enforcing those rules and the federal securities laws, informing and educating the investing public, providing trade reporting and other industry utilities, and administering the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and firms. For more information, visit www.finra.org.
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life. For details about grant programs and other FINRA Foundation initiatives, visit www.finrafoundation.org.
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