The Charles Schwab Corporation has announced that it will be piloting a
program of matching individual donations for classroom projects,
pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, designed to build
financial literacy for today’s youth. The matching donations will be
provided through the innovative nonprofit organization DonorsChoose.org.
Any public and charter school teachers across the U.S. can apply for
grants to fund personal finance education projects through the DonorsChoose.org
website.
According to the Council for Economic Education, fewer than half of all
schools across the country require a course on personal finance. Yet
today more than ever, Americans struggle with student loan debt, credit
card debt and general management of monthly expenses – not to mention
saving for retirement. The need for financial education is critical in
building self-reliance within an increasingly complex financial
landscape.
Even those teachers who want to equip their students with vital lessons
on personal finance often feel they lack the resources to do so.
Schwab’s initial $100,000 sponsorship with DonorsChoose.org will help
close that gap by providing dollar-for-dollar matching donations for
projects that incorporate financial education, giving teachers and
students the materials and experiences students need to succeed.
Financial education projects with a total cost of up to $1,500 are
eligible for the matching donation.
“We have a long history at Schwab of providing financial education for
people at all stages of life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice
president of Schwab Community Services and president and chair of
Charles Schwab Foundation. “Our corporate foundation’s flagship
financial education program for youth,
Money
Matters: Make It Count
through Boys & Girls Clubs of America,
has reached nearly three-quarters of a million teens to date. The
opportunity to further extend our reach by working with DonorsChoose and
encouraging individual donors to join us in supporting public schools is
very exciting.”
Seventy-four percent of public schools nationwide have posted projects
on DonorsChoose.org, and 2.4 million U.S. citizens have donated. Yet
only two percent of the projects to date are focused on financial
literacy.
"We so appreciate Schwab's support of financial literacy classroom
projects," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. "Schwab's
contribution will give teachers tools to help their students develop a
sound financial education, a critical life skill for students' future
success."
About DonorsChoose.Org
Founded in 2000 by a Bronx history teacher, DonorsChoose.org has raised
more than $510 million for America's classrooms. Teachers come to
DonorsChoose.org to request the materials and experiences they need most
for their classrooms, and donors give to the projects that inspire them.
More than 2.4 million people and partners have funded 860,000 projects
on the site, reaching nearly 22 million students and making
DonorsChoose.org the leading platform for supporting U.S. public schools.
About Charles Schwab
The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a leading provider of
financial services, with more than 335 offices and 10.2 million active
brokerage accounts, 1.5 million corporate retirement plan participants,
1.1 million banking accounts, and $2.78 trillion in client assets as of
December 31, 2016. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company
provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage,
banking, money management, custody, and financial advisory services to
individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its
broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org),
and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and
products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial
planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation
plan services; referrals to independent fee-based investment advisors;
and custodial, operational and trading support for independent,
fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its
banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank (member FDIC and an Equal
Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products.
More information is available at www.schwab.com and www.aboutschwab.com.
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About Charles Schwab Foundation
Charles Schwab Foundation is an independent nonprofit public benefit
corporation, funded by The Charles Schwab Corporation and classified by
the IRS as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code. The Foundation is neither a part of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
(member SIPC)
nor its parent company, The Charles Schwab Corporation. Its mission is
to educate, volunteer and advocate on behalf of those in need so that
everyone has the opportunity to achieve financial well-being. More
information is available at www.aboutschwab.com/community.
Charles Schwab Foundation, The Charles Schwab Corporation and its
subsidiaries are not affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
and DonorsChoose.org.
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