Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is proud to celebrate National Financial Literacy Month.  To elevate the importance of financial literacy and maintaining smart money management habits, we’re recognizing the Goodwill Young Leaders Board’s most recent volunteer initiative. 

The Goodwill Young Leaders Board (GWYLB) is an advisory board for young professionals (ages 22 - 40) committed to supporting Goodwill’s mission. The GWYLB recently partnered with Goodwill’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a work-based training program for adults age 55 and older, to educate participants on common types of elder financial exploitation, fraud, identity theft and the importance of establishing an emergency fund. 

The Financial Empowerment presentation was led by GWYLB member Rebecca Lomax, Associate Relationship Manager and Assistant Vice President at Key Bank. 

The Financial Empowerment presentation captured the attention of both board members and participants, who welcomed the opportunity to discuss protecting their identity, building an emergency fund and avoiding financial elder abuse and online scams. 

Throughout the session, SCSEP Participants raised their hands often to ask questions about how to avoid fraud from spam callers, how to set up a fiduciary and safeguard their personal information in the face of ever-changing technology. In addition to financial literacy, the GWYLB’s two-hour workshop paired Young Leaders with SCSEP participants for mock interviews and smartphone training to prepare participants for future employment. 

Program Manager Kris Green commented on how important it is for people of all ages to connect: “This workshop provided an opportunity for younger people to share current financial schemes plaguing older adults and older adults got to share stories about their lives and their work experience.” 

The most powerful outcome of this volunteer initiative wasn’t even the financial literacy but the relationships that were built across generations as young professionals and senior participants empowered each other through questions, laughter, and genuine conversation. Of the experience, Rebecca commented: “Facilitating the financial empowerment presentation was such an honor. It served as an icebreaker for conversation and connection amongst the young leaders, and the SCSEP participants. There were a few SCSEP participants who contributed valuable insights from their own financial journeys. It was truly a collaborative effort that sparked engagement and created an atmosphere of unity and acceptance. Truly, that is what it is all about.” 

Thank you to both the Goodwill Young Leaders Board and the SCSEP Program for celebrating financial wellness, together! 

Goodwill’s SCSEP program operates in 13 Indiana counties, providing Hoosiers age 55 and older with opportunities for paid, on-the-job training that can open doors to potential careers. For more information about Goodwill’s SCSEP, visit goodwillindy.org/scsep or call 317.524.4360.

Goodwill’s Young Leaders Board was established in 2014 to engage a new generation of leaders to further the mission of Goodwill. Young Leaders impact Goodwill’s mission through direct volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and the facilitation of new relationships. For more information about the GWYLB, visit the Young Leaders LinkedIn or contact cameray.vican@goodwillindy.org.