
The
National
Coalition
of
100
Black
Women/Prince
William
County
Chapter
(NCBW/PWCC)
has
partnered
with
John
D.
Jenkins
Elementary
School,
and
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
(PWCS)
to
launch
an
initiative
designed
to
help
teach
students
financial
literacy.
"We
have
implemented
this
Leader-In-Me
and
Financial
Mentoring
Program
for
third-fourth-fifth
graders
each
month,
commencing
September
2019.
We
are
truly
blessed
because
we
have
also
partnered
with
Apple
Federal
Credit
Union
(AFCU)
and
National
CARES
Mentoring
Organization,"
said
Dr.
Alice
H.
Howard,
organizer
and
past
president
of
the
coalition.

NCBW/PWCC
has
opened
savings
accounts
for
40
students
participating
in
the
Leader-In-Me
Financial
Mentoring
Program.
As
part
of
the
program,
coalition
members
have
reinforced
math
skills
taught
by
classroom
teachers
each
month,
with
a
goal
of
helping
students
master
concepts
needed
to
be
successful
in
passing
math
Standards
of
Learning
(SOL).
"The
Leader-In-Me
Program
is
an
excellent
way
for
students
to
focus
on
leadership
skills,
financial
literacy,
and
their
math
SOL
objectives.
PWCS
is
very
appreciative
of
the
collaborative
efforts
and
wonderful
partnership
with
AFCU
and
the
National
Coalition
of
Black
Women,
PWCC,"
said
Carolyn
M.
Custard,
PWCS
liaison.
Speaking
at
an
event
launching
the
initiative,
the
Reverend
Gordon
Jenkins,
son
of
Earnestine
Jenkins,
recalled
how
his
father,
John
Jenkins,
encouraged
him
to
open
a
savings
account
when
he
was
in
third
grade.
It
was
just
that
important
to
his
dad.
Lillie
Jessie,
PWCS
School
Board
member,
Occoquan
District,
recognized
the
many
supporters
of
the
initiative
and
stressed
how
essential
it
is
for
young
students
to
learn
about
money
early
in
life.

Nataliya
Stolmeier,
manager
of
the
Woodbridge
Apple
Federal
Credit
Union,
talked
about
the
importance
of
saving
and
how
starting
early
can
be
a
key
factor
for
the
future.
Responding
to
Stolmeier's
question,
"What
is
money
and
where
does
yours
come
from?,"
revealed
a
broad
range
of
experiences
these
children
have
had
handling
money.
Coalition
president,
Shelia
D.
Coleman,
presented
a
$400
check
to
Apple
Credit
Union
representatives,
so
that
they
may
open
each
student's
account
with
a
$10
deposit.
Dr.
Howard
then
presented
a
plaque
from
NCBW/PWCC
to
Jenkins
Principal
Marlene
Coleman,
honoring
the
John
D.
Jenkins
Leader-In-Me
and
Financial
Literacy
Mentoring
Program
and
recognizing
the
many
groups
and
individuals
who
have
supported
and
donated
to
the
effort.
During
this
presentation,
Coleman
also
announced
the
coalition
is
in
the
process
of
securing
funds
to
be
donated
to
the
school
each
month
for
the
purchase
of
school
supplies.
PWCS
Superintendent
Dr.
Steven
Walts
closed
by
addressing
the
students
directly.
He
emphasized
not
only
how
important
financial
literacy
is,
but
also
urged
them
to
stop
and
look
around
the
room
to
see
how
fortunate
they
are
to
have
so
many
people
supporting
the
effort
to
give
them
this
great
head
start.
"It
truly
is
a
gift,"
he
said.