COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BY THE UNITED WAY TO ENSURE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY ACHIEVES FINANCIAL STABILITY
Money Smart Marshall County is a collaborative initiative between United Way of Marshall County and local service providers, businesses, government agencies, schools, libraries, faith-based organizations and others to promote personal financial education at all economic levels to enhance financial knowledge and improve financial choices.
This initiative was established to ensure all our neighbors have the tools to achieve financial stability to:
- create pathways to financial independence
- develop better financial habits
- obtain better financial knowledge on money management
WHY FINANCIAL STABILITY MATTERS
As many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. Wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, and education and currently, 40 million Americans are working in low-paying jobs without basic health and retirement benefits.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau for Marshall County, the percentage of persons below poverty level was 12.2% (2006-2010) with the unemployment rate as of April 2012 at 8.1%.
OUR GOAL
In 2008, United Ways put an ambitious 10-year plan in place to cut in half the number of families and individuals who are financially unstable. With your help, we believe that by 2018 we can help 1.9 million working families get on the road to economic independence and becoming financially self-sufficient.
OUR APPROACH
To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from getting ahead financially, we launched the Financial Stability Partnership™, an initiative that promotes community-change strategies to help families meet their basic needs, while gaining the financial capability to plan for, and accomplish, their long-term financial goals.
In partnership with 18 community funding partners, Money Smart Marshall County's integrated approach supports families as they pursue their dreams with a three-pronged strategy:
| INCREASING INCOME |
BUILDING SAVINGS |
ATTAINING ASSETS |
- Individuals increase income through job training and education, finding better employment and taking advantage of free income tax preparation.
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- Building savings involves developing better financial habits through financial education, reducing debt and starting a savings plan.
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- Attaining assets means saving for a new car, home, higher education or starting a business through access to low-cost loans.
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MAJOR SPONSORS
Indiana Association of United Ways
1st Source Foundation
United Way of Marshall County, Inc.
Marshall County Community Foundation
FUNDING PARTNERS
1st Source Bank
Ameriprise Financial, Mark Umbaugh
Anderson and Company
Ball Auction & Realty, Inc.
Centier Bank
Collins & Company
First Federal Savings Bank, Plymouth
First State Bank of Bourbon
Thomas Franko CPA
Jones, Huff & Jones
June Bules, Attorney
Miller/Norcen Insurance
Morrow Insurance
State Farm Insurance, Laurie Sutter
Stevens, Travis, Fortin & Lukenbill
Teachers Credit Union
The First National Bank of Monterey
Zehner, Maloy & Associates, CPA's, L.L.C.