1
1
The Truist Foundation awarded FIU Business a $1.7 million grant to expand the reach of a high school financial literacy program to school systems across the U.S. The five-year grant will allow the Truist FIU Financial Wellness Clinic team to deliver the Truist FIU Finance curriculum to eight public high schools in Miami-Dade County.
Currently, students at four public high schools in Miami-Dade County and their parents participate in the National Academy Foundation's Academy of Finance program, learning through the Truist FIU Financial Wellness Clinic.
"Financial literacy skills are vitally important for both students and their parents, who must make prudent, wellinformed financial decisions as they approach college and careers," said FIU Business Dean Joanne Li. "We are grateful for the support of the Truist Foundation, which has enabled FIU Business to share our knowledge base of financial planning skills with not only our South Florida community but also with families across the nation."
"AT TRUIST, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING WEALTH TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND WE WANT TO INSTILL THOSE CONCEPTS IN STUDENTS AS EARLY IN LIFE AS POSSIBLE."
Tony Coley
Additionally, the program, which began in person and is now offered virtually, will be made available to schools in other Florida districts and nationally. On the national level, teachers and high school students in at least 140 U.S. cities will have access to the curriculum.
The technology-intensive Truist FIU Financial Wellness Clinic aims to increase college readiness and financial literacy for participants, who learn how to responsibly spend, save, borrow, and be smart consumers when shopping for financial services and insurance.
"At Truist, we understand the importance of building wealth to improve economic mobility, and we want to instill those concepts in students as early in life as possible," said Tony Coley, South Florida regional president for Truist, speaking on behalf of the Truist Foundation. "Our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and we know financial wellness leads to happiness and future success."
FIU Business will continue to host students from Academy of Finance schools in South Florida at the "I am C²" College & Career Ready Conference, to be held virtually, in partnership with the National Academy Foundation.
