Second Chance Partners for Education: Area businesses, educators team up to teach students financial literacy

Media invited March 26 to microcosm of model that would help Milwaukee, Racine

WAUKESHA – March 19, 2010 – Second Chance Partners for Education (SCP) and the Waukesha School District today announced the fourth annual “Financial Fitness 101” event, which will take place March 26 at the Center Court Sports Complex at 815 Northview Rd. in Waukesha from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. US Bank will underwrite the entire event as part of its commitment to community involvement.

“Our financial fitness event stimulates students to think of the reality facing them post high school,” says Marty Gholston, academic director. “Students gain a better understanding of careers, educational requirements, and job outlook as they research their selected career before attending. The culminating experience provides an opportunity for financial training that prepares them for success in life.”

More than 400 high school students will learn from area businesses about budgeting and test their financial literacy through a hands-on, interactive experience. Representatives from financial institutions, real estate, insurance, retail, government, utilities and more will contribute their knowledge and expertise. Students will learn how to make effective decisions as a consumer of products and services.

“As we work to expand the reach of Second Chance into Milwaukee, Racine and other Southeast Wisconsin counties, events like this illustrate how we partner with area businesses and school districts to stem the tide of high school dropout rates in Wisconsin,” says Stephanie Borowski, SCP executive director.

Second Chance Partners for Education is an integrated education model that graduates 90 percent of its nontraditional and disengaged students in Southeast Wisconsin. Forming partnerships among school districts, private businesses and philanthropic support, Second Chance Partners for Education provides hands-on learning and skills development over 21 months that meet academic requirements for achieving a high school diploma. Visit secondchancepartners.org for more information.