Multi-Year Funding and Free Tools for Schools and
Community Groups
WESTERLY, R.I., April 7,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Trust today announced
a new Financial Literacy Initiative designed to provide
individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations with
the money management tools and resources they need to achieve
economic empowerment. The Initiative has three components:
$165,000 in multi-year funding to
support literacy programs at the United Way of Rhode Island, Entrepreneurship for All Rhode
Island (EforAll), and Amos
House; a free web-based financial literacy program available
to local schools and community groups; and a new Financial Wellness
Center on the company's website.
"We believe financial literacy is critical in helping consumers,
businesses and nonprofits become more money-wise, confident, and
economically-empowered," stated Edward O. "Ned" Handy, Chairman
& CEO. "For more than 221 years Washington Trust has been
committed to providing funding and support to ensure our local
economies thrive and we believe these programs are an investment in
our future."
The first component of the Bank's Financial Literacy
Initiative is a $165,000
multi-year commitment, from the Washington Trust Charitable
Foundation, to three Rhode
Island-based nonprofit organizations:
- United Way of Rhode
Island: Washington Trust has committed
$90,000 to support the United Way's
LIFT UNITED economic security programming. "We know that
building economic security among our most vulnerable neighbors
effectively changes lives, and we also know the work to accomplish
this centers on being equitable. We look forward to working
together to strengthen our communities today and for the future,"
said Cortney Nicolato, United Way's
president and CEO.
- Entrepreneurship for All Rhode Island
(EforAll): Washington Trust is a founding
partner of E For All Rhode Island and has committed $45,000 in support of the organization's
investment in minority and women owned businesses. "An investment
in EforAll means an investment to help under-resourced individuals
in Rhode Island successfully start
and grow businesses through intensive business training, mentorship
and an extended professional network that will help the economy
thrive," said Laura Guillen,
Executive Director of Eforall | EparaTodos Rhode Island.
- Amos
House: Washington Trust has committed
$30,000 to support the organization's
Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). "This donation will help
support our Financial Opportunity Center's mission of providing
vital wraparound support services, education, and opportunities to
our guests on their journey to self-sufficiency," said Eileen Hayes, President & CEO of Amos
House.
The second component of the Bank's Financial Literacy
Initiative is a web-based curriculum offered
free-of-charge to schools and community groups through the Bank's
partnership with Banzai, Inc. Washington Trust has
committed to working with 28 middle schools and high schools
throughout Rhode Island to offer
teachers and students free, unlimited access to web-based modules
and physical workbooks that cover important financial literacy
topics.
The third component of the Bank's Financial Literacy
Initiative is a new Financial Wellness Center which is
housed on the Bank's website and contains articles, calculators,
security and money management tips, as well as web-based learning
tools and other resources. The site provides information on
key topics such as household budgeting, managing debt, and buying a
home. The Financial Wellness Assessment helps consumers analyze
their spending, budgeting, and saving habits so they can set goals
and improve their personal money management.
ABOUT WASHINGTON
TRUST®
Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest
community bank in the nation and one of the Northeast's premier
financial services companies. Washington Trust offers a full range
of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage
banking, personal banking and wealth management and trust
services through its offices located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Washington Trust Company is
a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ:
WASH). Additional information on Washington Trust and its
subsidiaries can be found at https://www.washtrust.com/.
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SOURCE The Washington Trust Company