Stories

Contributed by Amy Andrews 

Did you know that 44% of Americans don’t have enough cash to cover a $400 emergency or that 33% have zero saved for retirement? These alarming statistics from Forbes Magazine point to a huge lack in financial planning education. 

Enter WYTV7’s Financially Lit program which aims to educate and empower middle and high school students in our community about how to manage and budget their finances as they prepare for college and living independent adult lives.

According to Libby Grier, Executive Director, WYTV7.org, “Financially Lit is all about students and parents coming together to give our next generation the tools to focus on the future and have accountability for themselves.” She added “We are focused on students going on to college as well as students pursuing vocational careers. We are looking to support students regardless of their path.”

The Financially Lit program is a three-week course that is held in the spring at UNC Charlotte. Students from across the region are encouraged to apply and those who complete the course are eligible for a variety of college scholarships. The Financially Lit program focuses on the students for the bulk of the curriculum and culminates with a final week where parents and students come together to learn and establish a foundation for financial success.

The Financially Lit program is part of a partnership with BreadWinners, a financially literacy organization founded at UNCC to teach millennials about professional development, entrepreneurship and how to create wealth for themselves. 

This is the fourth year for the Financially Lit program, which has seen growth and earned praise from the community and its past participants. Students learn everything from how to write a check to how to create a budget and earn a certificate for completion of the course. The course uses a variety of interactive methods for getting students engaged and enthused, including role playing scenarios and team challenges. Students from sixth grade and up are encouraged to apply at www.wytv7.org

Check out this list to learn about more of our local nonprofit partners who are help to improve financial literacy in our community! Thank you to the Amy and Brain France Foundation for partnering with us to highlight this story and all others in our #SpotlightOnCLT series this year.