Governor and Legislature Proclaim April Financial Literacy Month in Rhode Island

RI Jump$tart Coalition Applauds Awareness Leadership

4.1.09 – The Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy applauds Governor Donald L. Carcieri and the Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives for their leadership in proclaiming April 2009 as “Financial Literacy Month” in Rhode Island and calling on all citizens to take steps to increase their personal financial literacy.

Included in his proclamation, Governor Carcieri stated, “WHEREAS, Public and private partnerships such as the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, seek to improve the personal financial literacy of Rhode Islanders, by promoting educational initiatives throughout our State, NOW, THEREFORE, I, Donald L. Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, do hereby proclaim, April 2009 as Financial Literacy Month.”

Senate Finance Chairman Daniel DaPonte, prime sponsor of the Senate resolution commented, “I am very proud to continue the Financial Literacy Month tradition begun by former Senators Frank T. Caprio and Daniel Issa.Today’s financial crises have produced an undeniable national ‘teachable moment’ that we all must embrace and raise our own financial literacy so that we may guard against future hardship.”

House of Representatives Finance Committee Chairman Steven Costantino, prime sponsor of House Resolution 6093, stated, “As I work with my colleagues and the Governor to reconcile our state budget, I am fully aware that Rhode Island families are also facing tough budget decisions at home.In today’s challenging economic climate, we all need to continually seek out reliable information so that we can make informed financial decisions.That is the purpose of Financial Literacy Month.”

Jump$tart Coalition President Charles Kelley, who is also the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, commended the policy makers, “We are very grateful for the awareness that Governor Carcieri, Chairman DaPonte, and Chairman Costantino have brought to the issue of personal financial literacy.One of few upsides to these tough financial times is that more people of all ages are creating and paying close attention to their monthly budgets, long-term financial goals and other personal and family financial areas.”

The Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition has promoted April as Financial Literacy Month every year since its inception 2005.The coalition encourages Ocean State residents to visit www.financialliteracymonth.com to review, “Thirty steps to financial wellness,” a resource that was created by Coalition partner, Money Management International.

Jim Hedemark, Jump$tart Coalition Executive Director spoke to the many partners involved in Ocean State financial literacy. “We appreciate the leadership demonstrated by our state’s civic leaders and we also are grateful for the dozens of Coalition partners who have stood with us for nearly five years.We also recognize exciting new efforts such as Domestic Bank’s newly formed ‘Partnership for Financial Literacy.’As we continue our efforts to increase youth personal financial education in our schools, we believe that the most meaningful progress will be made in homes through active parental involvement.”

There are many personal financial resources and tips that can be found at www.rijumpstart.org.

The Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition, a nonprofit organization founded in May of 2004, is the Ocean State’s only organization solely dedicated to the personal financial literacy of Ocean State Citizens and is currently conducting its annual Kid$ Campaign, a fund drive that supports the yearly work of the Coalition.

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