Hispanic Brotherhood Competing in Financial Literacy Challenge

The Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Inc. will be one of 25 nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools across Long Island that will be competing in Capital One Bank’s first-ever Financial Literacy Challenge at the Hofstra University Club Thursday evening.

The Financial Literacy Challenge is an awards competition designed to encourage money management best practices among kids and adults throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The 25 organizations serve a cross-section of the Long Island population, including youth, adults and individuals with disabilities and special needs throughout 22 towns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. At the event, each organization will showcase the program it will implement between September 2012 and May 2013 with a $5,000 seed grant provided by Capital One Bank.

Two grantees that demonstrate the greatest impact on the populations they serve will each be awarded an additional $15,000 contribution in the spring of 2013. 

The Long Island-based financial literacy programs being unveiled include:

• Financial planning sessions to help individuals with disabilities and their families open bank accounts, establish Special Needs Trusts and exploring life insurance.
• Community seminars on topics such as homeownership, income taxes, insurance and FAFSA preparation.
• Money management workshops involving writing personal financial plans and one-on-one counseling.
• Programs to help girls develop skills and goals to become economically independent adults.
• A Family Financial Literacy Fair for children and their families.
• The launch of a community investment club for teens.
• Bilingual seminars to teach immigrants about credit reports, budgeting and identity theft.
• Programs to helps survivors of domestic violence become financially independent through job readiness and budgeting skills.
• A small business training program, which teaches an understanding of credit, cash flow and financial goal setting.

Participating organizations include:

• Babylon High School Business & Family and Consumer Science Departments in Babylon
• Baldwin Public Library in Baldwin
• Common Ground Alliance, Inc. in Plainview
• Community Development Corporation of Long Island in Centereach
• Economic Opportunity Council Of Suffolk, Inc. in Patchogue
• Family and Children's Association in Mineola
• Family Residences and Essential Enterprises Inc. in Old Bethpage
• Family Service League in Huntington
• Girls Incorporated® of Long Island of Massapequa Park
• Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, Inc. in Commack
• Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club in Locust Valley
• Half Hollow Hills Community Library in Dix Hills
• Harbor Day Care Center, Inc. in New Hyde Park
• Health and Welfare Council of Long Island in Hempstead
• Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Inc. in Rockville Centre
• Hofstra University in Hempstead
• Literacy Nassau of Freeport
• Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc. in Hauppauge
• Mercy Haven, Inc. in Islip Terrace
• Middle Country Library Foundation in Centereach
• Patchogue-Medford Library in Patchogue
• The Disability Opportunity Fund in Albertson
• The Long Island Home d/b/a South Oaks Hospital in Amityville
• The Retreat in East Hampton
• Vincent Smith School of Port Washington in Port Washington