Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Students Gear Up to Take a ‘Bite of Reality’ During Upcoming Financial Literacy Day
SANTA ROSA – Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, a program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin, partnered with Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, California to support the organization’s financial literacy program. Nearly 100 juniors from high schools throughout Sonoma County and volunteers from the community will participate in a day focused in Financial Literacy on Saturday, December 7.
Students meet once per month and get an inside look at Sonoma County through hands-on learning that develops critical thinking and communication skills.
“We love partnering with Tomorrow’s Leaders Today because, like Redwood Credit Union, they are committed to the strength of our communities and our youth,” said Wrynn Valentine Reynoso, Financial Wellness Advocate at Redwood Credit Union. “It’s important for them to understand how to manage finances because it has long-term impacts on their success or failure in life. If you have money and you can handle it, you tend to be better off.”
The Bite of Reality Program is an interactive financial reality experience where students have a career, an income, a family, checking account, credit card, and choices to make on how to spend their money.
“As a Controller and parent, I see first-hand the need for financial education. It’s a reality check,” said Lotasha Thomas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin Controller. “Life is going to happen and our students will be better prepared for the financial realities they face as a result of this program.”
The Bite of Reality Program creates a safe environment in which students can experience how easy it can be to overspend. Students will receive counseling as to whether what they purchased is a need or a want. They will also be introduced to easy windfalls and unexpected bills, and coached how to manage unplanned expenses when they are thrown into the mix.
“When you’re a student you don’t really thing about managing money,” said Julia Green, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today student. “I’m excited to learn new skills through this program.”
Redwood Credit Union’s first Bite of Reality event was held in 2013. Since then, Redwood Credit Union has partnered with 50 North Bay schools and youth organizations to offer the program. More than 15,000 teens have participated in Redwood Credit Union’s Bite of Reality Program to date.
About Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
A program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today is a community education and leadership skills training program for students entering their junior year in high school throughout Sonoma County, California. Emphasizing hands-on learning, critical thinking, and communication, nearly 100 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today students get an inside look at their community and its issues, meet decision-makers, solve problems and discover how Sonoma County works. Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin is proud to serve 10,000 young people each year. For more information about Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, visit tomorrowsleaderstoday.org.