 Happy New Year! We are so excited for the year ahead and getting back to full capacity in our school programs, workshops, and summer camps.
There is nothing like seeing the wide-eyed expressions on the faces of students when they first enter one of our Townes, and hearing their excited chatter as they exchange stories at the end of the day. It never gets old. In fact, it strengthens our resolve to make our hands-on programming available to as many students as possible so they grow up with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to prosper in our free enterprise system.
We have several YouthBiz workshops already scheduled for 2022. You can see the full slate of workshops here. Additionally, registration for Summer Camps is now open. Camp slots fill quickly, so I encourage you to register soon. The complete Summer Camp schedule can be found here.
We are also celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Young Americans Bank this year - still the only federally insured bank in the world designed specifically to teach financial literacy to kids using real banking products and services. We're planning a fun community party later in the year to commemorate the occasion. In the meantime, I invite you to take advantage of the Bank's free Money Matters classes (now available online) to teach your kids about budgeting, developing good spending habits, and more. Participants can earn up to $10 for attending.
As you can see, there's a lot happening at Young Americans and I have a feeling it's going to be a really good year.
Sincerely,
Rich Martinez
President and CEO
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BUILD A BUSINESS, RULE THE WORLD,
LEARN TO BE MONEY SMART!
Week-long day camps for 3rd-8th grade students feature fun, hands-on learning opportunities. Camps are $250 per child per week.
Camps include: Young AmeriTowne, International Towne, and YouthBiz.
Details and registration here.
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Youth Advisory Board:
Neil Bhavikatti and Joe Miller
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 This month we highlight one student from Cherry Creek High School and one of several from J.K. Mullen High School who are serving on this year's Youth Advisory Board: Neil Bhavikatti and Joe Miller.
Neil is a sophomore at Cherry Creek High School with an affinity for math, chess, and business. He has been involved in chess since he was 5 years old and has been ranked in the top 2 for kids in Colorado. Neil was selected for the US Chess team for the Olympics when he was 11 and is currently nearing the title of National Master. He is also a regular volunteer with Project C.U.R.E.
Joe is a junior at Mullen High School and has a keen interest in the stock market, having already invested in several companies with earnings from his part time job. He likes to keep an eye on trends and other factors that influence the market. Ultimately, he would like to invest in a rental property. Joe is also an athlete. He says that each sport helps him build skills beyond the playing field.
Both of these young men bring unique and valuable perspectives to the Youth Advisory Board.
Read more about Neil and Joe.
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If you’ve always wanted to own a business but weren’t sure how to start, this workshop is for you! During this one-day workshop, participants (ages 6-21) will work their way through creating a real-life business plan! No need to even have an idea - we will help you with that! Details and registration here. |
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Sponsor Spotlight:
CoBank's Commitment to Fund Financial Education For Young People
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CoBank is a key partner in our efforts to provide an equitable financial education for all. Since 2007, CoBank has helped Young Americans Center make significant strides in the number of at-risk students reached each year.
Past Young Americans Board Chair and CFO of CoBank, Dave Burlage, explains why this partnership is important to CoBank: “CoBank is proud to invest in organizations and programs that address the critical social and economic needs of our nation’s rural communities, as well as those in the communities where our associates live and work."
Read more about this important partnership.
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Concept of the Month: Credit Smarts
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 As much as we wish credit was 'free' money, credit is actually borrowed money that you have to pay back. Not only do you have to pay for the purchases you make using credit, but also the fees and interest that the credit card company (or lender) charges for you to use credit.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT CREDIT?
It’s important to recognize the pros and cons of using credit so that you can make good decisions about when and how to use it. Using credit wisely will help you build a good credit history, which is important in helping build your long-term assets such as owning a car, house, or business.
Learn more about credit and test your credit smarts here.
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