Goal Card Program

The RISE Goal Card program, in partnership with SunTrust Bank, performed the On My Own Financial Simulation facilitated by Bank On Memphis for the senior Goal Card participants at Melrose High School. The goal of this interactive financial education program is to provide students with insight regarding their financial health by teaching life lessons based on their choices.

By using hypothetical occupation and income scenarios, each student becomes the major income provider of their household and works through a month of expenses to include housing, utilities, transportation, insurance, food, child care, clothing, entertainment, and other expenses resulting from unexpected events. The main outcome objective is that young people will realize the connection between personal lifestyle choices and financial well-being and will be able to put that knowledge into practice when they become financially responsible for their own lives.

The senior Goal Card participants were very appreciative of the experience. Many admitted that they had no clue of the many expenses that are attributed to being the head of household. The On My Own Financial Simulation definitely stressed the importance of not only saving money for emergencies, but working within a budget to have a better quality of life. It encouraged the participants to look at their own household to see what could be done to help to eliminate unnecessary spending.

The RISE Goal Card Program is dedicated to exposing students to opportunities that will help them to become responsible adults, better prepared to join our future workforce. By supporting the Goal Card program, you will assist in the continuation of such opportunities for our program participants.  Your donations help make a critical difference in their lives today, and in their future when they can apply these learned skills in making wise financial choices as adults.

Links:

• High Ground News reports RISE collaboration with SunTrust