National Financial Literacy Month is recognized every year in April in to highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach Americans to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. For the past 15 years, Goodwill Manasota has promoted financial literacy through classes covering topics ranging from credit counseling and using online banking to understanding consumer credit; coursework was developed in collaboration with area banking institutions. The goal is to ensure that individuals living at or below the poverty level have the knowledge and resources they need to effectively manage their money and transition from poverty to economic independence. In order to support financial literacy efforts in our community, on numerous dates in April at three of its Community Rooms, Goodwill will offer a free class, “Credit Smart/Protecting Your Information,” with Jason Russ, a Wells Fargo At Work Program consultant. Russ will discuss how credit works as well as how the home financing and buying process works; the class will enable participants to make informed decisions regarding their future. The course will also offer tips to protect private information and what to do when you become a victim of fraud. 

Goodwill Manasota