BOSTON – The United Way of Pioneer Valley is the recipient of a state grant established to help military families.
State Treasurer Goldberg announced the recipients of the Operation Money Wise: Financial Education Opportunity Grant funded through her Office of Economic Empowerment. This newly launched program supports non-profit organizations, public agencies, and higher education institutions in Massachusetts that foster financial literacy in the Military, Veteran, Family and Survivor Community (MVFSC).
Through an extensive application process that culminated this month, the Treasurer’s Economic Empowerment Trust Fund awarded four organizations across the Commonwealth a total of $20,000 in grant money to expand upon or establish these initiatives. Applicants for this grant were eligible to receive up to $5,000 of funding for their program.
“These financial literacy grants will further empower our military community and their families to make informed financial decisions” said Goldberg. “I am honored to support organizations that work to bring economic stability to the men, women and families who help keep our country safe.”
Known as the Operation Money Wise: Financial Education Opportunity Grant and funded through the Office of Economic Empowerment, these grants aim to increase the scope of financial education for military families by providing them with the tools they need to achieve financial stability. Many of these workshops will include strategy sessions on managing money, planning for college, preparing for retirement and monetary decision-making.
With three Thrive financial literacy centers up and running in Holyoke and Springfield, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program flourishing throughout the region, UWPV is already a leader in improving fiscal education and responsibility among those we serve. The Thrive centers have served hundreds of student and seniors, helping them improve their credit ratings and open their first bank accounts. Last year, VITA helped 4,594 working families keep $2,462,549 through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
“This $5,000 grant will help us broaden our reach and make our financial literacy offerings more robust and sustainable,” said Sylvia deHaas-Phillips, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at UWPV. “We are honored and grateful to be selected for this grant.”
For more information on the Office of Economic Empowerment visit www.mass.gov/treasury/empowerment or follow the hashtag #FinLitMA
