Running the Numbers: Financial Literacy Strides AHEAD with New Grant

The IRC has been awarded $20,000 through the $1 million Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) Grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.   With funding for the AHEAD Grant, IRC will provide six months of Financial Education to refugees by providing critical financial literacy education. Program manager Jon Vosper commented, “Newly arriving families must become financially savvy quickly... Through this AHEAD grant, the IRC is able to help create opportunities for refugees to thrive.”  Since the program’s inception in 2004, the IRC has successfully assisted thousands of refugees in becoming financially literate. Last year alone, the program trained over 400 refugees who participated in workshops on budgeting, banking and job readiness.

The IRC is thankful for the important support community partners like the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco have provided. In order to help refugees improve their employment skills IRC is seeking volunteers to assist in teaching basic financial workshops, a fantastic opportunity for businesses and corporations to encourage staff volunteerism. We are also seeking donations of interview appropriate clothing for a “Dress for Success” clothing closet. 

To find out more about Corporate Volunteer opportunities with our Employment Program please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Nicolle.Walker@theIRC.org. To donate clothing for our “Dress for Success” closet please contact our Development Associate at Rachel.Aherin@theIRC.org.