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Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf (center) with the Delaware Financial Empowerment Summit panelists (left to right) Santino Ceccotti, Dr. Nicholas Fina (moderator), Jim Law, Roger Sales, Alyssa Cowin, and Stephane Merrit
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The Disability Community Joins $tand By MeŽ
$tand By MeŽ is building a strategic network of new friends from the disability community. The process started last fall when $tand By MeŽ added a new module on disability to its coaching training and continued last December when over 125 people gathered in Dover to learn more about financial empowerment and disability. Results included the formation of a working group under $tand By MeŽ -- the Diversity Advisors -- who are planning a series of statewide mini-summits over the next several months. If you are interested in getting involved please contact Izzy Mead at Isabelle.Mead@state.de.us or 302-255-9621.
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Allison Laurant, a $tand By MeŽ Financial Coach promoting MyFreeTaxes
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My Free Taxes Delaware Achieves Goal of 2,000 Tax Filers in 2013
During the 2013 tax season, $tand By MeŽ partnered with United Way of Delaware and Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County to offer MyFreeTaxes to Delaware taxpayers with a household income at or below $57,000. More than 2,000 Delawareans took advantage of the offer to do their own taxes with this free web-based tax-preparation software. Delaware was the top referring partner in the nation, and the numbers are still climbing.
To accomplish this, $tand By MeŽ and the MyFreeTaxes Coalition in Delaware embarked on an aggressive e-Marketing and social media campaign to create awareness for MyFreeTaxesDE.com. Taxpayers could file their federal and state taxes online for free and also had access to technical support via a national phone hotline, email and online chat.
One tax filer said, "It was very easy. There was someone there to help answer my questions when I got stuck and explain things to me. It was a great experience and I would recommend it to everyone. I hope they continue this program." - Martha
In addition, more than 100 tax filers also requested a free session with a $tand By MeŽ financial coach. For those individuals who have not yet filed their taxes, this online tax service is available until October 15, 2013. For more info, go to MyFreeTaxesDE.com.
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 | | Students from Glasgow High School at their new Bank at School |
Bank at School: Reaching Students Early to Encourage Savings
On Friday, April 12th, Governor Markell joined the team of school and community partners to recognize the significance of having Bank at School programs at seven middle and high schools in the Christina School District in a "Grand Launch" event at Glasgow High School. There was an overwhelming level of support from the Credit Unions and Banks to make this a reality. The financial partners included American Spirit Federal Credit Union, Del One Federal Credit Union, DEXSTA Federal Credit Union, New Castle County School Employee Federal Credit Union, and Wells Fargo. A great deal of support was also provided by the Louviers Federal Credit Union. Students will now be able to open savings accounts and make deposits right at school. The Bank at School program was founded in 1992 as a partnership between the University of Delaware's Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship and the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute.
In addition to the Bank at School initiative, $tand by MeŽ and the Christina School District Office of Secondary Instruction combined forces and launched a multi-faceted program almost a year ago to support students and their families plan for their future career and post-secondary education. During this school year alone, almost 2000 students and/or parents have participated in one of the interactive events and activities that were a component of the program strategy including, Mind Over Money Workshops, Dual Enrollment courses, District Wide College Fair, career exploration trips to Junior Achievement, college trips, Get on Track for College Resource Guide sessions, and FASFA (Free Application for Student Financial Aid) completion sessions.
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Retirement Planning: How Secure Are You Feeling About Your Future?
$tand By MeŽ 50+ is a new initiative developed in collaboration with the Wilmington Senior Center, the Delaware Aging Network, the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities and the Center for Retirement Security at Boston College. This program aims to bring economic empowerment to pre- and post-retirement Delawareans age 50 and older. Services include financial coaching, workshops, benefits access and retirement planning for baby boomers and retirees. $tand By MeŽ 50+ will be available at libraries and senior centers in the early spring and summer and plans to launch it to the entire state in the early Fall.
Initial funding for the program is provided by Bank of America to the Wilmington Senior Center. Funding will also be provided by the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities and local philanthropic organizations. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page to follow details about the launch.
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 | | Melvina Richey (right), a $tand By MeŽ volunteer plus a member of the Delaware National Guard and a student at Wesley College, helping a student with his FAFSA application at Newark High School |
Helping to Make Going to College a Reality
This year over 100 families received assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. For many people this opportunity is highly valued and much appreciated. One parent from the Appoquinimink School District commented: " I really enjoyed the one-on-one support. It took away the anxiety of understanding the different government questions."
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Appreciation for Our Involvement at Wilmington University
"I want to thank you for taking the time to present Stand By MeŽ to both of my FYE (First Year Experience) classes. Your presentations are wonderful - so articulate, and so valuable for the students. I learned several things as well. (Never too old, I guess!) Anyway, I wanted you to know that the students in both classes responded with a resounding "YES" when asked if they felt it was a valuable presentation for them. I will definitely call on you for my classes in the Fall, if you're still willing. - a faculty member from Wilmington University
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 | | ESL Students at Indian River High School |
"Living the American Dream"
$tand By MeŽ has recently started to work with immigrants in partnership with local English as a Second Language programs, with assistance from Maryanne Grau, ESL Coordinator at Polytech Adult Education. Participants from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Haiti, Korea, and China attended Mind Over Money workshops at various locations including, South Dover High School, Lincoln Methodist Church, Reformation Methodist Church, Georgetown Middle School and Indian River High School. Most of this population does not have citizenship yet and faces many challenges, however they are eager to learn, hope, and dream that someday they will accomplish their goals of financial freedom. Jose Martinez, the$tand By MeŽ financial coach who assisted these individuals commented, "This program has enriched my life more than I ever thought...to a higher level in my sense of what I am doing as a person, helping my fellow human beings. I see this program as providing the financial foundation to empower immigrants and others towards living the American dream."
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Increasing Capacity in Sussex County
To support the growing demand for our services, coaches in Sussex County have been meeting with the staff and general public at two new locations. Our partners include the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford which employs approximately 900 employees plus offers 30 independent branches throughout the county and the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes which employs roughly 1,900 people.
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Governor Jack Markell Talking About His Vision for $tand By MeŽ
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Join Us As We Celebrate
When Governor Markell was elected he had a vision to change people's lives through a package of innovative empowerment services. On June (stay tuned for the date) we will be celebrating the second anniversary of $tand By MeŽ with Governor Markell and our crucial partners who have made a commitment to breaking new ground in the field of financial empowerment. We will celebrate the accomplishments of Delawareans who have taken control of their finances. Check our Facebook page for more details.
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Meet Monique
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Changing Lives Monique Pochvatilla has been meeting with a financial coach from $tand By MeŽ and has knocked down barriers to create a more secure financial life. She shares her experience, including this thought: "You don't want anybody knowing about your financial life. You want everything on the outside to look good and you know you got everything together but it's not always the truth. And if you can open up [your financial coach] can help."
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