Spring ISD’s Clark Primary School Principal Debbie Klemcke, left, and students Joslynn White, Phillip Hill, Christopher Spooner and Farris Ricks listen to Bank of America Vice President Trudy Nix explain the Making Change Program. The program is a collaboration between NAM, Bank of America and Spring ISD and is designed to teach children about money management and philanthropy. A portion of the proceeds will go to NAM’s Back to School Project.
NAM has joined with Bank of America and Spring ISD for a pilot program called “Making Change” which is designed to teach elementary school students the basics of budgeting and the value of philanthropy.
“We are excited about this partnership because this is an important issue from NAM’s perspective, as most of our adult clients struggle with money management issues,” said Carole Little, NAM President and CEO, and who developed the project concept.
“We hope that by developing an understanding of money management at an early age, they will be better prepared to handle their money in the future. We also want them to understand the value to the community of volunteering and helping their neighbors in need.”
Bank of America has generously stepped forward as a corporate sponsor with a two-year commitment of $50,000 to cover program costs and with volunteer involvement. Spring ISD has agreed to work with NAM to introduce the project in elementary schools and to allow students to collect coins in their classrooms.
During the project, which is scheduled to begin in spring 2008, project coordinators will ask students to bring their spare change to class and then budget a portion to be saved, a portion to be spent, and a portion to be shared. The portion to be shared will be collected for NAM's annual "Back to School" project, which provides needy children in the community with school supplies. The portions to be saved and spent may be used at the discretion of the teachers for classroom needs or treats. The class in each school that raises the most money for NAM will receive special recognition.
The goals of the Making Change project are: 1) Increase knowledge of budgeting, saving and sharing among Spring ISD elementary school students; 2) increase understanding of philanthropy among Spring ISD elementary school students; 3) increase volunteerism for NAM from students, parents, teachers, and Bank of America volunteers; and 4) add a new source of revenue for NAM.
For information about the Making Change Project, call Maria Magee at 281-885-4605.
A flyer with Making Change information is available for download.
