DFA In the Community
Debt-Free America is dedicated to providing FREE credit counseling and financial literacy education to help consumers of all ages and income levels learn competent money management skills. Our goal is to serve the community through programs/ workshops, in-class room presentations and teacher trainings for K-12, and by being out in community.
DFA sponsors Little League Banner
March–May, 2008
Debt-Free America sponsored a banner for a team within Santana National Little League, The Bees T-Ball Team. The Bees T-Ball team is a first-time baseball player team that meets up and plays games without competition scoring. The team is made up of 12 players, 3 coaches, and 1 Team-Mom. Rebecca Nelson, whose son Seth plays on the team, is Team-Mom and Executive Assistant at Debt-Free America. She stated that,
“baseball can be expensive and by DFA sponsoring the banner, it helped the parents save money, which is what we are all about”. Debt-Free America also helped sponsor raffle baskets with debt management and financial education items to help further promote the importance of financial literacy education.
DFA sponsors Enrichment Work’s “The Money Monster”
April–May, 2008
“Thank you for Debt-Free America’s generous contribution to Enrichment Works. Your gift will enable this nonprofit organization to provide live performances of our personal financial musical, The Money Mon$ter, followed by a Q&A session with the cast, at 10 schools located in low-income areas of Los Angeles over the next two months. These Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools are enrolled in the Youth Development Program (YDP) offering a variety of enrichment activities during after school hours. I estimate that more than 1,200 students, 80 staff and 100 parents will benefit directly from your sponsorship. Gary, I appreciate the time you and Linsy were able to spend with me as well as the advice regarding trade organizations and other opportunities. Your commitment to the cause of financial literacy is inspiring.”–Abraham Tetenbaum, Executive Director
There are many creative and interactive ways to educate students about their finances and one way is through live entertainment. Debt-Free America is dedicated to educating youth on the importance of financial literacy. Lack of financial knowledge and education is a growing issue with our youth today. To support student awareness and knowledge in financial literacy education, Debt-Free America is a proud sponsor of The Money Mon$ter through the Enrichment Works Organization based out of Los Angeles. The 45 minute shows ran from April 14 through May 14.
The play educates students about their finances and teaches kids about how to be responsible with their money as they get older. By putting on this creative and music filled production, it not only entertains the audience, but it also teaches them valuable lessons about how to manage their money correctly and financially prepare for the future. It is never too early to start teaching your children about being financially responsible. And what better way to hold their attention than to perform the lessons through song and dance on stage?
3rd Annual East County Financial Freedom Day and Homeownership Fair
In El Cajon, CA –October 20, 2007
U.S. Bank’s 3rd Annual East County Financial Freedom & Homeownership Fair,
Presented by Washington Mutual held at the Ronald Regan Community Center
in El Cajon, CA is a free event for the community. Attendees enjoyed vendors,
food, music, kids activities, property tours and financial literacy seminars.
This annual event aims to provide consumers with personal financial literacy
education, technical assistance to residents and small business owners and
promote community revitalization.
Morse High School - October 19, 2007
Our Director of Education, Nan Pace, participated in the 2nd Annual Principal for a Day program sponsored by Merrill Lynch and coordinated by the San Diego Unified School District. This program invites business and community leaders to experience a morning in the life of a school principal. Special thanks to Co-principals: Rocio Weiss and Todd Irving for welcoming Debt-Free America to Morse High School located in San Diego, CA.
Miramar Air Show –October 12 - 14, 2007
Held at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS in San Diego, CA), home of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and host of the largest Air Show in the country. This three-day event is attended by over half a million spectators. This year’s air show is the anchor event for Fleet Week San Diego, a patriotic celebration hosted by America’s Finest City annually.
Fallbrook District Wellness & Open Enrollment Fair –October 2, 2007
250 employees and community members attend this Wellness Fair to receive a free flu shot and gather information on nutrition, fitness, health products and fiscal fitness.
Adams Avenue Street Fair –September 29 & 30, 2007
The Adams Avenue Street Fair, Southern California’s Largest FREE Two-Day Music Festival, covers eight blocks of Adams Avenue (located in the North Park section of San Diego) and is attended by over 100,000 people each year. The Adams Avenue Street Fair offers over 70 live music performances on six stages and over 300 vendor booths for visitors to explore.
San Diego County Fair
This year we spent three sunshine-filled days at the San Diego County Fair held on the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. Each day between 40,000 and 60,000 attendees visited the annual County Fair. While at the Fair we met many folks who were already debt free, some who had been through our DMP, others who were excited to learn about our services and program, but one who asked us about recovering from identity theft.
Although we offer a many resources on how to “avoid identity theft” and “what to do when it happens,” we didn’t have any information available on credit recovery. It prompted us to research and gather the latest information on how to recover from and rebuild your credit after this dreadful experience. Look in our Library (under Education) for those additional resources, but check out DFA Visits the County Fair in our 2007 3rd Quarter newsletter Education Update.
Junior Achievement
DFA staff members proudly volunteer for Junior Achievement programs. JA programs complement and enhance a school’s curriculum by providing a realistic and relevant view of the world beyond school. As trained Junior Achievement Community Volunteers, we teach financial literacy lessons and engage students in activities specially designed for the grade levels K-12. Our goals, as a volunteer in the classroom, are to challenge students to excel in school and make the activities come alive by sharing our personal experiences.
Acting as a positive adult role model, exemplifies ways to build self-confidence, develop skills and find avenues of success in our free enterprise system which is a hallmark of Junior Achievement. Our last volunteer day was June 7, 2007 at Salt Creek Elementary School in Chula Vista. We congratulate Miss Carlton’s P.M. Kindergarten class on a success day of learning!
SONY Environmental and Healthy Lifestyles Expo
A corporate wellness day, serving over 3200 employees from Sony, BAE Systems, Unysis & HP, provided a variety of resources on Environmentally Friendly products & services, Alternative energy options, Health Screenings, Lifestyle Coaching, Nutrition, Spa Connections, Gardening, Financial Health and more. This one day event was held on the SONY campus in San Diego, CA.
The Diversity Group Career Fair
The Diversity Group is an organization committed to diversity in the workplace through equal opportunity employers. They assist in job placement by offering jobseekers the ability to search for top jobs in a variety companies. DFA participates at the Career Fair as an added benefit to jobseekers by providing informational pamphlets and booklets on the subjects of budgeting, how to use credit wisely and saving for the future.
DFA Helps Oceanside Save!
The mayor of Oceanside made a proclamation on that Oceanside would observe “America Saves” week February 25 – March 4, 2007. Debt-Free America coordinated the press releases and made two TV appearances speaking on behalf of the San Diego chapter of America Saves. DFA forwarded the campaign to all our clients and had over 75 people commit to pay debt faster or save funds for their future.
DFA Supports the Community
Debt-Free America cares for the community and supports charitable causes to make that community better. Here you will find just a few of the ways we are staying active in the community.
DFA supports Kash Kids Summer Program
June-August, 2008
Located in Jacksonville, Florida, Kash Kids Money Camp is a summer program that is dedicated to the importance of teaching our youth the necessities in understanding personal finances. It will be the 3rd annual financial literacy camp for children ages 9-18 years of age. They will be able to learn the difference between assets and liabilities, wealth building skills, creative writing skills (publishing a group book), credit vs. debt and how to start their very own group and individual business. There are workshops for parents as well. Debt-Free America will be sending promotional items to help encourage and support financial literacy education for all age groups and is honored to join forces with Twyla Prindle, Founder of Kash Kids.
DFA supports Golf Classic at La Costa
-May, 2008
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, as well as the families assisted by Conner’s Case for Children, I would like to express our grateful appreciation to you for your support of this year’s Golf Classic at La Costa…The income we received from this year’s Golf Classic and Silent Auction will enable us to continue to help families with many out of pocket expenses that make it so much more difficult for them to care for their very sick children…Conner’s Cause for Children cannot cure the terrible illnesses that all too often cut short young lives, but with the help of supporters like you, we can bring a bit of financial breathing space to families so that they can focus on what matters most: take care of their children”. -Carol Del Signore, Executive Director
Debt-Free America is proud to support Conner’s Cause for Children and to assist those in the community who have financial hardships. Conner’s Cause for Children is the only non-profit organization in San Diego to benefit local families with the monumental task of caring for a child with any life threatening, or life limiting diseases. Conner’s Cause helps these families care for their children by providing assistance for out-of-pocket medical expenses or basic household needs that are not paid by any private insurance or public benefits. Conner’s Cause for Children believes that families of children with life-threatening illnesses should be able to focus on taking care of their children and not on how to put gas in the car, food on the table and the lights turned on.
DFA supports Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
-April, 2008
“Thank you very much for your donation to 2008 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Los Angeles. Your gift makes a difference-by helping the Avon Foundation advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.”
Founded in 1955, the Avon Foundation has been committed to the mission to improve the lives of women and their families. Now past the half century milestone, the Avon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that brings this mission to life through two key areas of focus: breast cancer and domestic violence.
DFA supports Sharon’s Ride. Run. Walk for Epilepsy
-April, 2008
“Thank you for your generous contribution to Sharon’s Ride. Run. Walk for Epilepsy 2008. Your donation will help further our mission.”
The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is a nonprofit health agency dedicated to the prevention and control of epilepsy and its consequences, and to helping families overcome the problems associated with this condition.
They have been serving the San Diego community since 1954, offering personal counseling, education and a variety of supportive services. All services are free and are available to anyone whose life is touched by epilepsy, regardless of the severity of the disability and without regard to race, creed, age, sex or nationality.
DFA Participates in Lifestyle's INFOCUS Geico Health and Wellness Fair
-April 9, 2008
“On behalf of Lifestyles INFOCUS and GEICO, I wanted to personally thank you for participating in their Health and Wellness Fair and making it a great event! GEICO was thoroughly impressed with you and the employees had a great time interacting with you!”-Mike Lynch, Sponsorship Sales and Marketing, Lifestyles INFOCUS
Debt-Free America participated in LifeStyles third event with Geico in their efforts to bring Health and Wellness to the workplace. GEICO is one of the most proactive companies when it comes to health and wellness for their employees. Debt-Free America was hand picked to attend the event because financial literacy education is important to Geico employees’ well being. The event was an outstanding success as Debt-Free America’s Linsy John, Director of Education, Tony Roman, Program Administrator, and Shirley Reeves, Counselor, provided Geico employees with detailed financial literacy education and advice, informative reading materials, interactive children’s money management books, raffles, and more.
Making Strides -October 21, 2007
Team DFA
Team DFA is committed to raising awareness about a deadly disease that affects all of our lives. On Sunday, October 21, 2007 walked among 20,000 other participants in San Diego’s Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk through Balboa Park in San Diego, CA. We continue to support this event and the American Caner Society in the fight to effectively treat and cure breast cancer.
San Diego Charger Backers Annual Celebrity GT
This annual golf tournament is proud to support to the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) with this year’s tournament proceeds. HD is a fatal genetic brain disorder that robs people of their ability to walk, talk, eat and think. An estimated 30,000 Americans have it, and at least 150,000 more are at risk. HD affects both sexes and all ethnic groups and strikes in the prime of life. Children of a parent with HD have a 50-50 chance of inheriting the condition, and the disease can start as early as childhood. For more information visit www.hdsasandiego.org
DFA Participates in Breast Cancer Walks
Debt-Free America employees and family have been greatly affected by this terrible disease. We walk to support the goals and determination of those people that are currently battling cancer and in memory of those that fought cancer to the end.
DFA in the 7th Annual Sharon's Ride Run. Walk.
"Thanks to your FANTASTIC support, the 7th Annual "Sharon's Ride, Run & Walk for Epilepsy" was the GREATEST ever!
We had an EXCELLENT time working with you. The FUN factor was high and, together, we made measurable impact on the lives of individuals and families affected by epilepsy. They sky opened up and shined so brightly on Sunday...it was ONE BEAUTIFUL DAY in the life of our Foundation! We are forever grateful to you for your support and want you to know it!"
With much love and gratitude,
The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County
To view photos, log onto www.epilepsysandiego.org
DFA Drives for Del Mar School Children
"Please accept our heartfelt appreciation on behalf of the Del Mar Schools Education Foundation for participating in the DMSEF Golf Classic. Thank you for making the day so special!"
Very truly yours,
Chris Breault & Debra McGinty Poleet
DMSEF Board Co-Presidents
DFA Aids Louisiana Small Business Relief Fund
"The Baton Rouge Area Foundation and all of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina thank you for your donation to the Small Business Relief Fund. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
I have been amazed by the generosity of people who are eager to do anything they can do to help their neighbors"
Sincerely,
Sonia S. McKinight
Baton Rouge Area Foundation