By David W. Burns
August 1, 2011

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin formally accepted a $4,000 grant from The United States Conference of Mayors’ DollarWise campaign during a financial education class July 26 for financial literacy on behalf of Fresno and the United Way of Fresno County.

“It is never too early to teach our young people about the right ways to save and spend their money,” Swearengin said. “This grant from the DollarWI$E program will help our Bank on Fresno partners in their important efforts to help our young people develop smart money management skills.”

The financial literary class consisted of youth participants from the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board summer jobs program. The grant specifically goes to providing workshops this summer. Youth between the ages of 14-21 years old focus on money management, the importance of checking and savings accounts, along with what’s inside a paycheck. Youth who complete the program are eligible to receive a $25 deposit to help start their checking or savings account.

“Mayor Swearengin and the city of Fresno are true pioneers when it comes to teaching our youth the fundamentals of finance that will help ensure they grow up to be responsible, educated, and debt-free adults,” said Conference of Mayors President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. “Teaching financial literacy and responsibility from a young age will not only help young people succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy, it will help us avert another mortgage meltdown and financial crisis. With our youth empowered to make better financial decisions, they will not only enjoy a brighter future, but also help our national economy prosper,” he said.

The incorporation of financial education into Fresno’s summer jobs program was one of the goals of Swearengin and the United Way of Fresno County, the organization that administers Bank on Fresno, the larger campaign to reach out to the unbanked or under-banked throughout the city.