Goal Card Program

RISE is proud to celebrate our 5th grade students at LaRose Elementary as they kicked off their first quarter of Pennies-a-Day, they did an amazing job gathering coins for their 1st deposit! Congratulations to the Goal Card participants at LaRose for having the most coins collected for their first deposit day, and a special congrats to Mr. Dantrell for making the highest deposit of over $15! We would like to thank all of our students who attended and a special thank you to our school administrators, who assisted in making this possible by accommodating our team with space within the schools. We couldn't do it without you! The Pennies-a-Day program, in partnership with Orion Federal Credit Union, was established in 2018 to provide our students with an introduction to banking and to encourage savings at a younger age. 

The RISE Memphis 11^th Annual Career Forum returned Friday, May 6, 2022 with great acclaim. Safety remains our top priority at RISE Memphis, so our career forum this year was held virtually for all high school Goal Card students. This highly anticipated event gave insight to juniors and seniors on many unique post-secondary and career options open to them after graduation. 

Goal Card students await this event because it gives them an opportunity to ask real world questions to top professionals on their terms, up close and personal.  This year's panel definately didn't disappoint, they were just as engaging as they were relevant.  Each panelist shared their career highlights, educational pursuits and low-points in their respective journeys.  Students commented that they appreciated the male and female perspectives of the presenters, which played into why they scored this year's forum a resounding ten.  

Devoted to the understanding that financial literacy is an integral part of making educational and career decisions, partner representatives were available to share critical information regarding college admissions, scholarships and FASFA. Goal Card students were able to inquire about company trends regarding tuition reimbusement benefits and prospective employer policies on compensation for advanced education.  

RISE is especially pleased that this group of exceptional young professionals volunteered to interact with our highly motivated students.  Students who are looking for true insight into the world of work and how they can make their transitions to colleges and careers armed with the right information.  Your company, small business or alma mater can support the RISE Goal Card Career Forum too.  It takes dedication, resourcefulness and connections to enable students to make informed decisions about their paths after graduation, we would like to invite you to become a RISER and make a difference in the lives of youth in Memphis.  

RISE Goal Card Program along with the wonderful team at Cummings Optional School hosted the Quarter 2 Honors Celebration. The honors program was held on Friday, February 11th and highlighted scholars who earned exceptional marks in academics, behavior, and participation for the second nine-week quarter. Pastor, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur, Chris Broom, spoke to the students about standing aside from the crowd by following a positive path in life. Each student in grade K-8 that was honored received a medal and additional gifts from the Cummings school staff and Principal McGuire.

Goal Card is an incentive-based program, working with schools in some of the poorest communities of Shelby County. Participating students earn points for accomplishing their improvements in academics, attendance, and conduct. As students’ progress through the school year, they can either redeem points for specific items offered (scientific calculators, rechargeable batteries, etc) each six-week period or bank points for future redemptions. In addition to Goal Card program participants outperforming their peers in elementary and middle school, Goal Card high school students last academic school year had a 100% graduation rate with all graduating seniors to date enrolled in post-secondary institutions.

Please help Goal Card continue this critical work in our community by donating today to the RISE Foundation. Your contribution will directly benefit families in need who have been disproportionally impacted financially, academically, and environmentally due to their circumstances and not their abilities to succeed.

Recent Goal Setter of the Month, Yasmine is joyously deep diving into her future with the help of the Goal Card Program at the RISE Foundation.  Goal Card participants in grades 10-12 are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones when choosing future professions and make selections that will honor their desires to keep them always learning, achieving, and aspiring.  

Future Melrose High graduate Yasmine has done just that and is looking forward to pursuing a degree in law.  Yasmine has been in the Goal Card program since her freshman year and is a member of the RISE CSA (Children’s Savings Account) program where she will receive a matching gift from RISE to assist with her post-secondary education when she graduates! Yasmine has plans to attend Harvard University to become an Intellectual Property Attorney. 

We are pleased that she has selected such a unique legal specialty.  We know that this career selection will take her in many different and exciting directions.  Goal Setters of the Month are selected by each group’s Goal Card Coordinator with the help of representatives at our participating schools. 

Please consider contributing to the RISE Goal Card program today and ensure that students like Yasmine can discover opportunities that empower them to achieve their life's educational goals.  

While at Melrose High Miss JK was introduced to the RISE Foundation and our Children’s Savings Account Program (CSA). She was amazed at the opportunities that RISE offered and joined the program wholeheartedly. She has been a dedicated member of the RISE CSA program since its inception in 2018. When her family moved, JK transferred from Melrose High School, but she stayed with the program and continued to make monthly deposits into her savings account. 

In May of this year, JK graduated as the salutatorian of Compass Community School, and will be attending Southwest Community College in the fall majoring in Paralegal Studies.  We are so proud of JK for all her major accomplishments, including receiving her CSA account match, VISA gift card bonus, and HP Chromebook courtesy of Jack & Jill Foundation of America. Congratulations JK for staying the course and putting your academics, attendance and conduct at the forefront of your scholastic journey!

RISE Foundation CSA students are highly engaged in their financial literacy and education goals. They receive monthly bank statements in the mail detailing their account balances so that they can share their savings goals with their parents. Goal Card program coordinators monitor deposits as well and can help students who need to get back on track if they are having problems making deposits. Goal Card CSA program is critical in helping students in grades 10 – 12 implement real-world financial literacy skill planning and good money management practices.

Please consider supporting the Goal Card program at the RISE Foundation today. You are making a huge difference in the lives of students determined to change the course of their financial futures through improving their financial education and breaking the cycle of generational poverty for their families while they are in their youth.

Links:

• RISE Foundation website