HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – April 15, 2019 – Avoiding a cycle of debt. Trying to build savings. Managing day-to-day spending. Paying for college. Planning for retirement. At all stages of life, people are making financial decisions.
Problem is, they are not always prepared.
Regions Bank works year-round to connect people with free financial education to help them manage their money. And nonprofit organizations across our communities share that goal. So throughout April, which is Financial Literacy Month, Regions is highlighting the work of nonprofits that are helping people take charge of their financial futures.
Locally, Village of Promise, Inc. is one of those nonprofits. The organization provides support services for children and their families in the Huntsville area. The programs cover education, social, emotional, and workforce development.
Village of Promise works in one of the most under-resourced areas of Huntsville. The organization’s campus is located within the city’s largest public housing community. Staff work to guide and support children and their families as they transition out of poverty. The entry into Village of Promise starts with Infant University. From there, children and parents are supported through a continuum of programs from early education and schooling activities, followed by post-secondary education and eventually training that allows them to get a job.
Regions is using its web and social media channels to spotlight Village of Promise and other nonprofits with similar services.
Since its inception in 2011, Village of Promise has touched more than 800 lives in the Huntsville area.
The public can help, too.
As part of Regions’ “What a Difference a Day Makes” program, Village of Promise and other nonprofits are currently highlighted in the What a Difference a Day Makes section of Regions’ news website. Over the next couple of weeks, people can read about the work of these nonprofits. Readers ages 16 and over can vote once each day for their favorite organization.
Those votes, when tallied, will translate into financial and volunteer contributions for the nonprofits from Regions.
“Financial education leads to financial empowerment, and Village of Promise is making a powerful difference by connecting individuals with skills they need for a brighter future,” said Ron Poteat, Huntsville area Market Executive for Regions. “Through What a Difference a Day Makes, we’re raising awareness of these services while encouraging public support and volunteerism. By simply reading their stories and voting for their favorites, people can help these nonprofits further their mission and serve more people.”
In addition to the profiles at www.doingmoretoday.com/what-a-difference/, each participating nonprofit will be the focus of messages shared via @RegionsNews on Twitter. A video further illustrating the initiative is available on Regions’ YouTube channel.
Voting is under way now and continues through April 30. After voting concludes, the nonprofit with the greatest number of votes will receive a $5,000 grant from Regions. All other contestants will receive grants of $500 or $1,000 based on their ranking. Further, Regions associates will provide a day of volunteer service to each participating organization.
Voters should live in any of the 15 states across the Southeast, Midwest and Texas, where Regions Bank operates branch offices. Top nonprofits will be announced in early May.
Financial education is one of Regions’ top priorities in terms of community engagement. Over the last five years, Regions has taught more than 300,000 Next Step financial wellness classes and helped more than 4 million people better understand financial topics.
Further, volunteer support is ingrained within the culture of Regions Bank. Each year, Regions associates company-wide provide tens of thousands of volunteer service hours to a variety of nonprofits. Also, part of “What a Difference a Day Makes” includes Regions providing each of its associates a paid day off every year to offer volunteer support for nonprofits.
Village of Promise recently acquired a new space to convert to an administrative office area and workspace for adult family members and interns. The nonprofit plans to use the financial investment to purchase supplies for the renovation, and use Regions volunteers to clean, paint and replace carpet.
More information about Regions’ community commitment can be found here.