TMCnet News
Take Charge America Awarded $7,500 Grant From Thunderbirds Charities to Support At-Risk YouthThunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of the Thunderbirds - hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community - recently awarded $7,500 to Take Charge America, a national nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency based in Phoenix, to support financial literacy and life skills education for at-risk youth. The grant will be used to fund free financial literacy and life skills courses for at-risk Arizona youth who are aging out of the foster care system or attending Title 1 high schools. The program is designed to help youth gain critical knowledge needed to enter adulthood and prevent financial setbacks. "It's vital that all teens receive guidance when transitioning to adulthood and financial independence, but at-risk youth are especially in need of core financial and life skills education," said Take Charge America CEO David Richardson (News - Alert). "This grant will allow us to provide even more youth with the knowledge they need to live independently and get an education without accumulating excessive debt." Each year, thousands of Arizona children are placed into foster care or the state's child welfare system. According to the Department of Child Safety, approximately 800 youths "aged out" of the system in 2016 when they reached age 18. These young adults lived in an average of 2.3 "placements," including group homes and temporary foser homes. Take Charge America's program curriculum includes eight one-hour sessions covering a variety of topics, including resume writing, tips for job applications and interviews, establishing credit, budgeting, obtaining financial aid and scholarships, and tips to afford housing and transportation. Local agencies and organizations interested in Take Charge America's programs for at-risk youth should contact Matt Long, Outreach Educator, at 623-266-6231. About Take Charge America Since 1987, Take Charge America has been committed to helping people around the country improve their financial futures. The agency works with individuals and families facing a variety of financial challenges to help them achieve self-reliance, financial stability and independence. The commitment to financial education has helped Take Charge America become one of the largest nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agencies in the nation. It has helped more than 1.6 million people manage their finances and repay more than $5 billion in personal debts. For more information, please visit takechargeamerica.org. About The Thunderbirds/Thunderbirds Charities Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities. The organization's giving is directed toward organizations based or with a significant presence in Arizona. The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 "active" members and more than 250 "life" members. For more information on the Thunderbirds or the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.
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