Common Cents

The RISE Foundation is constantly working to assist residents in Memphis with resources to help them overcome financial strife. This work has led to various media coverage over the last year to let families, businesses and organizations know where they can turn to when they need sound advice on finances for themselves, their employees, or their clients. In an interview with Fox 13 reporter Siobhan Riley, RISE shares how the Common Cents program is here to help and why employers are listening. 

RISE Common Cents participant, Ms. Todd was very honest about the challenges she was facing. “It’s pretty hard to budget," she said. "It’s pretty hard to save because someone is always needing something - either gas, food, clothes, pampers.”  Ms. Todd who is a single mother of three said she felt the effects of COVID-19 when her hours were cut as a medical assistant. Her job advocated for its employees to put some preventive measures in place as everyone navigated through the pandemic. They called on the RISE Foundation and their Common Cents program to help. Ms. Todd enrolled in the RISE Common Cents program a year ago. The company she works for encourages employees to participate. The goal of Common Cents is to work closely with local businesses aiming to take the burden off their employees hit miserably by financial hardships. In the interview with Fox 13, RISE Senior Program Coordinator explains that the first key step is honestly acknowledging exactly how much money you’re working with. “Writing down all your expenses, just writing it out and from there you can find out what to do with your money, tell your money where it should go and not get so caught up in consumerism,” said Rod Lomax, Senior Program Coordinator with the Common Cents Program.

The program is showing Ms. Todd firsthand what she is spending her money on. “Mostly that’s for food because when I get off late, instead of me going home and fixing something, preparing something, I go and grab food from the fast-food restaurants, it’s teaching me why and how to save,” she said. Common Cents participants view the program as an extra employee benefit through their jobs and employers view the program as not only a winning solution for them but for all the families who depend on the stability of those employed there. Consider supporting the Common Cents program today, your choice absolutely makes a difference in the lives of others.

Links:

• FOX 13 covers RISE Common Cents Program