$100,000 Grant from OneMain will Support Development of Comprehensive
Resource Toolkit Aimed at Increasing College Completion Rates
OneMain Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:OMF) and KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program),
announced today that they have entered into a year-long partnership to
develop a comprehensive financial literacy toolkit to be made available
to all 183 KIPP schools by 2017. When complete, the toolkit will offer
resources, curriculum and protocols to help students, staff and families
at KIPP public charter schools navigate financial issues, such as
budgeting and wise use of credit, and questions related to college costs.
The goal of the partnership is to create a set of standardized,
centralized resources that can be used by KIPP Through College
counselors throughout the country, and eventually shared more broadly as
a resource for college counseling programs outside of KIPP. OneMain has
provided a grant of $100,000 to support the development of the toolkit.
KIPP will research and curate current best practices in financial
literacy education within and outside of the KIPP network, conduct focus
groups to solicit ideas and feedback, and develop materials to be
included in the toolkit.
“This is extremely important work, and we are grateful to OneMain for
making this effort possible,” said Craig Robinson, director of the
national KIPP Through College program for KIPP. “We know that many of
our students struggle with navigating the financial challenges of
college, and having a one-stop shop for financial resources will help us
ensure all of our students and their families are getting the support
they need to make critical financial decisions that will set them up for
success in college and beyond.”
“As the nation’s largest personal finance company, OneMain takes its
responsibility to provide young people with the tools they need to make
sound financial decisions very seriously,” said Sheldon Caplis, Director
of Community Relations for OneMain. “These decisions include career
planning, understanding the full costs of college, and developing
responsible saving and spending plans. Partnering with an outstanding
organization like KIPP gives us the opportunity to develop, test, and
scale a package of resources to better guide students as they transition
to post-secondary education and careers.”
OneMain has a long history of supporting financial literacy. The company
has funded past projects with other education organizations, including
Junior Achievement in Maryland and Indiana. Through its Achieving the
Dream initiative, the company has developed a partnership with community
colleges designed to develop, expand and disseminate best practices in
Financial Education. The company also supports adult financial inclusion
through Baltimore CASH, Maryland CASH, and United Way in Indiana and
Maryland.
The partnership with OneMain is part of KIPP’s focus on providing
continuous support and resources to students as they go to and through
college. KIPP, a national network of 183 public charter schools,
educates nearly 70,000 students nationwide from educationally
underserved communities. KIPP students have a four-year college
completion rate that is above the national average for all students, and
more than four times the rate for students from similar socio-economic
backgrounds.
About KIPP
KIPP – the Knowledge Is Power Program – is a national network of
open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools with a track
record of preparing students in educationally underserved communities
for success in college and in life. KIPP was founded in Houston in 1994
and has grown to 183 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
More than 95 percent of students enrolled in KIPP schools are African
American or Latino, and 87 percent qualify for the federal free and
reduced-price meals program. KIPP’s work is centered in the belief that
excellent academics, safe and structured schools, empowered teachers, an
emphasis on character development, and support through college are the
foundation for student success.
About One Main Holdings, Inc.
OneMain Holdings, Inc. is one of America’s leading personal finance
companies offering responsible and transparent personal loan products,
primarily to nonprime consumers. For over 100 years, the company has
been providing personalized, best-in-class service at more than 1,800
branches in 43 states. The company’s iLoan® internet lending division
also provides customers the opportunity to complete the loan process
entirely online. The company has more than 11,000 team members who
proudly support the communities in which they live and work. For
additional information, please visit OneMainFinancial.com.
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