(BALTIMORE, MD) – The lack of awareness and poor fiscal decisions that resulted in the current economic tailspin underscore how important it is for all of us to be financially informed.  Money management know-how is best gained as early as possible, so that consumers are able to make sound financial choices throughout their lives.  Local 501(3)(c) nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE (CCCS) is committed to giving Maryland students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed financially.  CCCS recently received a $59,375 grant from Chase to bolster this effort.  This grant was funded through Chase’s Financial Literacy Grant Program, a national initiative that is in its sixth year.

“Starting financial education at a young age enables students to develop good habits that will last them a lifetime,” confirms CCCS President Jim Godfrey.  “Chase’s generous grant will help us continue to provide local teachers with the tools they need to help students and their families move forward on the right financial path.”

CCCS of MD & DE has been an advocate of financial literacy in Maryland for 46 years.  In 1993, the agency formed a partnership with the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE) to provide economic and personal finance training, curricula, and resources to teachers.  This past year, 3,141 Maryland teachers received “train-the-trainer” workshops and provided personal finance and life skills instruction to nearly 270,000 students in grades K-12 under this program. The Chase grant will augment this program.

CCCS Executive Vice President Lori Jankalski notes, “Money management lessons generally begin at home, but for many children, that may not be enough.  Sometimes parents lack financial knowledge themselves or they may have trouble getting past the ‘lecture phase’ of teaching.  Other times, they may be working so hard to put food on the table that they just don’t have the time to devote to ongoing lessons.  In these situations, financial education at school becomes crucial.” Jankalski emphasizes, “The personal finance training and resources CCCS provides fill a vital educational gap.  Through our partnership with MCEE, Maryland teachers learn how to incorporate crucial financial lessons in their classrooms.  These lessons offer children skills they can use for years to come.”

The Chase grant will help CCCS continue this endeavor.  Godfrey concludes, “When clients come to us with financial problems, they often tell us they wish they had learned more about how to manage money when they were in high school and college.  Consumers who gain these skills before leaving home grow up to be better informed, more financially secure adults.” 

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase serves more than 50 million consumers and small businesses through more than 5,500 bank branches, 17,500 ATMs, credit cards, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

About CCCS of MD & DE, Inc.

Serving the community since 1966, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE, Inc. is an accredited non-profit financial literacy advocate. CCCS is dedicated to helping individuals and families resolve financial problems through confidential budget counseling, debt management repayment programs, and community education. CCCS of Maryland & Delaware does not lend money, nor are we a collection agency. Annually, CCCS of Maryland & Delaware helps more than 30,000 individuals through counseling sessions and reaches more than 150,000 individuals through education programs.  To learn more about CCCS’s programs and services, please visit www.cccs-inc.org.  MD License #14-01