Augusta— The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation and United Way Worldwide (UWW) have announced that Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community (WWC) is one of 15 recipients nationwide to receive over $1.8 million in grants as part of the Financial Education in Your Community initiative.
Maine Centers for Women, Work & Community (www.womenworkandcommunity.org), which serves all 16 Maine counties, will receive $125,000 over a two year period to add modules on investing and retirement planning to their basic money management curriculum, integrate financial planning and investing skills as core competencies in their workforce development programs, and create more effective marketing and promotional tools to support their statewide work.
“We are delighted to receive this important grant support. Interest in our money management classes has been increasing; women of all ages have told us they need to know more about retirement, saving, and investing in their future, even as they struggle to meet their daily expenses. This grant will give us new tools to help more individuals reach their financial goals,” according to Gilda Nardone, Executive Director of WWC. “We look forward to working with our local partners, including the United Ways, to implement this project.” In addition to funding, the Foundation is providing unbiased financial education materials and ongoing technical assistance.
WWC is the only statewide comprehensive women’s education and economic development organization in Maine. Founded in 1978 through state legislation, WWC’s mission is to improve the economic lives of Maine women and their families, and offers programs and services to help them succeed in their workplace, business, and community. Serving all 16 Maine counties from strategic locations, WWC has helped over 30,000 women since 1978. For more information visit www.womenworkandcommunity.org
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation is the largest foundation in the U.S. dedicated to investor education. Its mission is to provide investors with high quality, easily accessible information and tools to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing. To further this mission, the Foundation awards grants to fund educational programs and research aimed at segments of the investing public who could benefit from additional resources. Since inception, the FINRA Foundation has approved nearly $50 million in financial education and investor protection initiatives through a combination of grants and targeted projects. For details about grant programs and other FINRA Foundation initiatives, visit www.finrafoundation.org.
“We are proud to partner with United Way to provide support for community-based innovators who are developing effective approaches to financial education that can be leveraged in communities across the country,” said FINRA Foundation President John Gannon. “These local organizations have a unique ability to provide low- and middle-income Americans with the information and support they need to make sound financial decisions and save for their long-term financial security.”
United Way is a worldwide network in 40 countries and territories, including nearly 1,300 local organizations in the U.S. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: LIVEUNITED.org.