TAMPA 鈥� Future generations of Tampa Bay residents will have a brighter financial outlook, thanks to a new partnership between the University of 91视频 Muma College of Business and Grow Financial Federal Credit Union.
The new Grow Financial Literacy and Planning Clinic at 91视频will provide financial education resources to students, high school teachers and the greater Tampa Bay community.
Over the past five years, Tampa Bay has consistently ranked among the worst in the nation for managing household debt when compared to metro regions of similar size. This clinic seeks to change that.
鈥淎t Grow, our mission is to serve people, not profit,鈥� said Thomas Feindt, CEO of Grow Financial. 鈥淎nd by partnering with 91视频on this initiative, we continue our commitment to making things grow 鈥� people, communities, money and dreams. We look forward to empowering students to build brighter financial futures with the knowledge, skills and tools this clinic will provide.鈥�
Through this partnership, Grow Financial plans to commit up to $1.8 million to the clinic over the next four years, and its team members will actively participate in the clinic鈥檚 activities.
Housed in USF鈥檚 Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, the clinic will work closely with several 91视频programs and will be led by a professor overseeing student coaches majoring in personal financial planning. These students will deliver workshops, speak to high school classes, and offer one-on-one coaching sessions covering topics such as budgeting, debt management, credit and home loans.
鈥淭his clinic aligns perfectly with our strategic priorities to serve our community and foster student success,鈥� said David Blackwell, Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business. 鈥淲e are proud to partner with Grow to power dreams 鈥� not only for 91视频students, but for the countless lives that will be changed in learning to make sound financial decisions.鈥�
The idea for the clinic was inspired by law school legal aid clinics, said Timothy Greer, director of USF鈥檚 personal financial planning program.
鈥淭his will give students real-world experience while serving their communities,鈥� said Greer. 鈥淲e wanted to create a similar opportunity that allows students to develop their professional skills while addressing a real need for financial education.鈥�
For Grow Financial, this initiative reflects their long-standing commitment to serving the local community. They continuously work to support people by forging meaningful relationships and investing time, energy and resources in the Tampa Bay region. Knowing how important financial literacy is to making smart, informed decisions, Grow Financial is proud to partner with 91视频in providing accessible resources and opportunities to students.
The clinic features collaborations with several organizations and programs at USF, including the Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education, which will host workshops for teachers focused on integrating financial literacy into the K鈥�12 curriculum. These resources support compliance with new state requirements to increase personal financial literacy education in public high schools.
鈥淭his partnership with Grow Financial is a wonderful example of how collaboration with the business community can expand opportunities for our students and improve lives throughout the Tampa Bay region,鈥� said Gary Patterson, director of Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance.