Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey (BGCNJ) has announced a new partnership and a $20,000 grant from Citizens aimed at strengthening the financial stability of Club families across the state. The initiative will deliver accessible, practical financial education directly to parents and guardians in a highly engaging format.
The partnership is designed to address financial literacy as a core component of success for young people and their families.
“When we strengthen the financial well-being of our families, we strengthen the foundation that supports every Club member,” Susan Haspel, State Director of Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey. “We are grateful to Citizens for investing in our communities and helping equip families with the tools they need to thrive.”
The core of the initiative involves Citizens colleagues leading a series of informal, conversation-based financial workshops at Clubhouses in Newark, Garfield, Monmouth County, and Union County.
The workshops will take place during upcoming Thanksgiving and holiday family dinners at the Clubs, emphasizing a warm, welcoming, and interactive setting over a traditional classroom style. Citizens colleagues will:
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Share financial tips and myth-busters.
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Engage in one-on-one conversations with families to address individual needs.
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Answer questions on essential topics like homeownership, savings, banking basics, and preparing for college.
Resources for Long-Term Success
Citizens will also host information tables featuring kid-friendly activities, giveaways, and helpful materials on key resources such as:
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College Bound Citizens and College Raptor programs.
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Information on HELOC and first-time homebuyer programs.
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Additional financial literacy tools and banking services.
Yajaira Hafley, Tri-State Metro Retail Market Executive at Citizens, emphasized the shared goal: “Our colleagues will be visiting local Boys & Girls Clubs to work with families on building the confidence and skills they need to make informed financial decisions.”
The partnership’s goal is to build relationships and spark ongoing conversations about financial security that continue well beyond the event, ultimately empowering the over 60,000 youth and their families served annually by the BGCNJ network.
