Community Corner
UNION BANK PARTNERS WITH OPERATION HOPE TO TEACH STUDENTS FINANCIAL EDUCATION AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB'S CORONA RANCH CLUBHOUSE IN PETALUMA
UNION BANK PARTNERS WITH OPERATION HOPE TO TEACH STUDENTS FINANCIAL EDUCATION AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB’S CORONA RANCH CLUBHOUSE IN PETALUMA
Students recognized for participating in HOPE’s “Banking on Our Future” program taught by bank volunteers
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 17, 2014 – As part of its ongoing commitment to responsible banking and to help increase youth financial education, Union Bank, N.A., partnered with financial dignity nonprofit Operation HOPE (HOPE), and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties to educate high school students about the basics of personal finance. Union Bank volunteers Robin Gold and Jessica Sartain began teaching HOPE’s award-winning youth financial literacy program, Banking on Our Future, to members of the Corona Ranch Clubhouse in Petaluma on February 26. The five-week course culminated with a recognition ceremony to celebrate the students’ completion of the program on April 2.
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This is the first group of students to participate in HOPE’s Banking on Our Future curriculum at the Corona Ranch Clubhouse. The Banking on Our Future curriculum features the Basics of Budgeting, Get Smart About Banking (Checking and Saving Accounts), Fundamentals of Credit, and Introduction to Savings and Investing. There is also a course titled “A Course in Dignity.” Each week, students participating in the program learned practical lessons by using hands-on calculations and real-world examples.
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“It has been a pleasure to partner with Union Bank and Operation HOPE to bring the Banking on Our Future curriculum to our students at the Corona Ranch Clubhouse,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties President and CEO David Solo. “The curriculum engages the students through real-world examples that make learning fun as well as can have a positive impact on our youth today and in the future.”
In the culminating ceremony held April 2, Boys & Girls Club, Union Bank, and HOPE executives formally acknowledged and awarded certificates to the students for participating in the program.
“We are pleased to have this opportunity to teach students the Operation HOPE’s Banking on Our Future program,” said Union Bank Vice President and Sonoma Branch Manager Robin Gold. “Each week, it has wonderful to see how engaged the students have been in this program. Union Bank remains commitment to volunteer service and providing financial education not only during Financial Literacy Month in April, but throughout the entire year.”
The classroom edition of Banking on Our Future is a critical element of HOPE’s FIVE MILLION KIDS Initiative aimed at making kids money-smart and lowering the school dropout rate in America. Union Bank was the first national sponsor of the initiative.
HOPE Youth Empowerment Program Manager Gregory Collins captured the commitment to financial education saying, “HOPE is dedicated to bringing financial education to youth and providing students with real-world examples and resources that they can use in the future to help make personal finance decisions.”
Banking on Our Future was designed to elevate the dignity, hope, and economic self-sufficiency of people in low-wealth communities through financial empowerment. Since its inception, the program has reached more than 746,000 students in more than 700 schools and community-based organizations in the U.S. and South Africa.
About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $105.9 billion at December 31, 2013. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., provides an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 420 branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, New York and Georgia, as well as 2 international offices, on December 31, 2013. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, NYSE:MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations. In July 2013, American Banker Magazine and the Reputation Institute ranked Union Bank #1 for reputation among its customers. Visit http://www.unionbank.com for more information.
About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Operation HOPE promotes financial dignity through financial literacy and education tools to underserved communities. Through its four core portfolios, the organization has provided youth and adult financial literacy, economic preparedness, digital empowerment, promoted home ownership, and assisted with foreclosure prevention to more than 2 million individuals, families, and small business owners. Established in 1992, after the worst urban riot in U.S. history HOPE celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, continuing its “silver rights” mission to assist underserved communities through financial literacy programs that increase net worth and promotes financial dignity. To learn more about Operation HOPE visit www.operationhope.org; follow us our Twitter: @operationhope and like us on Facebook: Operation HOPE, Inc.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties
For over 55 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties (BGCMSSC) has been offering life-changing programs for youth ages 6 through 18. “Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens”. Our Clubs operate Monday through Friday from the end of the school day through at least 6 p.m. and during the summer from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No child is ever turned away due to inability to pay the $10 annual fee. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties visit http://www.petaluma-marinbgc.org/ or call 707-769-5322.
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