The Herald News: FREE Hosts Financial Clinic at Warren-Sharpe

USF students teach youths at Joliet community center value of saving money

 JOLIET — A University of St. Francis student club recently taught some area children about the importance of budgeting and saving. Members of Financial Research and Education through Experience visited the Warren Sharpe Community Center on July 26 to give a fun, yet educational financial clinic.

Warren Sharpe is a nonprofit community organization offering social service programs and assistance to low-income, at-risk families on the south side of Joliet.

University students Samantha Cepl, of Joliet; Timothy Plett, of Johnsburg; Jason Campbell, of University Park; and club adviser, professor Frank Wyrostek, led the children in conversations, games and a raffle to get them excited about financial matters.

“This event was so rewarding because the students really seemed to enjoy our visit,” Cepl said.

“What interested me most about FREE was their involvement in teaching financial literacy to younger students, and I am so honored to have been involved in this experience at Warren Sharpe.”

The younger children played a grocery store game where they were given play money to purchase grocery store items. The older children were engaged in various exercises dealing with understanding the value of savings and compounding interest.

There also was a raffle for T-shirts and book bags.

Wyrostek said the FREE students hope to continue a relationship with the center in an effort to help the center continue to meet the needs of the children and families they serve.

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Copyright © 2011 — Sun-Times Media, LLC

Press Release: FREE Members Earn NEFE Certification

Naperville, IL (March 24, 2011) – Financial Research and Education through Experience (FREE), announced today the names of University of St. Francis students and alumnus who have received formal certification from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) for the High School Financial Planning Program®. They are, Audrey Musiimenta, Jason Campbell, Samantha Cepl, Edon Shaqiri, Melissa McGee, Ericka Williamson, Timothy Plett, Nicholas Purchase, Andrew Johnson and Mubashir Olaoye.

The program provides USF students the opportunity to impart practical financial knowledge to a younger audience in the Joliet area community. “Financial planning is important for students because it gives them tools they need in order to be successful throughout their careers. Being organized with you finances can help these young adults reach their goals at a much faster rate,” said Samantha Cepl, Organizational Director of FREE.

 FREE will continue hosting other campus wide initiatives to advance the organization’s goal of expanding financial literacy throughout the campus and also the community. “We believe the best investment for the future is in education. One of our missions is to reach out to the community and the NEFE certification is one component of this effort,” said Edon Shaqiri, President of FREE.

About the National Endowment for Financial Education

The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) is the only private, nonprofit, national foundation wholly dedicated to improving the financial well-being of all Americans. 

Mission

The mission of the National Endowment for Financial Education is to help individual Americans acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to take control of their financial destiny. NEFE’s mission is grounded in the belief that regardless of background or income level, financially informed individuals are better able to:

• Take control of their circumstances, 
• Improve their quality of life, and 
• Ensure a stable future for themselves and their families.

Edon Shaqiri

FREE President

edonshaqiri@stfrancis.edu

FREE teams up w/ the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)

Official Train the Trainer Flyer