A Holiday Message to Families

$1000 Winner Story

“It’s really exciting to have this gift serve as part of the foundation toward setting our children up for success. It’s inspired us and encourage family members to contribute to it this holiday season” — Erin.

Congratulations to Erin, our October Fund My Future $1000 Winner and mother of two! Erin learned about Fund My Future through the Pennsylvania 529 website. When she saw the link to take the PA Savings Pledge. It made sense for her to take the pledge, it was simple and straight forward on a website she trusted.

Before joining Fund My Future, Erin was saving for her children in a PA 529, which she learned about in her role as a financial educator. But there was something about receiving the Fund My Future monthly reminders that had Erin focusing more on the importance of saving for her children. These reminders gave her reasons to amp up saving because she was only making periodic deposits, including birthday and special occasion deposits—but now that she is a Fund My Future participant, she makes regular monthly deposits. Erin appreciates the monthly Fund My Future reminder emails and phone calls. She compared the reminder phone calls to monthly motivational messages that remind her of what she’s doing for her children.

When Erin received the phone call informing her that she was a $1000 winner, the feeling of winning took a while to settle in. At first, she was hesitant and in disbelief because it seemed too good to be true. But, soon, she started to get excited.

Now that she is a $1000 Winner, she has been spreading the word about Fund My Future. She tells her friends and family and also the daycare staff and families where her children attend. She is now excited about saving. As a financial educator, she knows the importance of saving. She believes that no amount is too small to start; sometimes, we are not good at saving for ourselves, but when we save for our children, the message gets through, and saving gets done.

I’m Still a Winner

Shavon has been a Fund My Future participant since January 2019. She heard about the program through a family member, whose Fund My Future piggy bank caught her attention. She went on to do research and decided to join the program because she was already saving at home in several piggy banks for her daughter.

After joining, she met with Ms. Toni Corinealdi at the Key Bank in East Liberty to open her daughter’s first savings account. She wanted to include her daughter in the experience, so her daughter accompanied her to the bank.

After joining Fund My Future and receiving monthly reminders, Shavon has committed to making monthly in-person deposits into her daughter’s savings account. Both her and her daughter take time every month to sit down and roll coins from her piggy bank and then make bank deposits. By including her daughter in this routine, she knows how much is going into her bank account. This interaction makes Shavon feel good, knowing that she is doing something good for her daughter’s future.  Although her daughter is only six years old, she feels like a big girl because she saves money. Ever since receiving her first bank statement, she regularly checks with mom to see if she received any mail.

For Shavon, being part of Fund My Future is about doing something good for her child and seeing her eyes light up when they count the money from her piggy bank. She feels like her daughter is getting a jump start and getting something she didn’t have as a child. Shavon believes that her daughter is the first child in her generation to have a savings account in her name, and because of that, she is already a winner!

Important Message for Propel School Families

We are proud of your commitment to invest in your child’s future. As a reminder to PROPEL families, by December 18, all Fund My Future in-school savings accounts will need transitioned into individual long-term children savings accounts. If your child currently has an in-school savings account or you would like to start an account, please call a Fund My Future Representative at 833-SAVE WIN (728-3946) or 412-930-3831 for assistance with transitioning. Also, beginning February 2021 any accounts with less than $25 will be automatically processed and mailed to the address on file.

“Better Save Than Sorry”

Congratulations to the Kingsley Family Support Center for being the first community partner with families who completed the Better Save than Sorry Three-Part Saving Series. Several other community partners have scheduled sessions, including The Homewood Children’s Village and the Homewood Early Learning Hub and Family Center. The Carnegie Library is also planning another Fund My Future Information session on January 21st. This is a FREE registration event and you must register to attend. Please click here to register. Be on the lookout for more info on our Facebook page.

If your community organization would like to learn more about the Fund My Future Three-Part Saving Series, please click here to visit our website and click on the “Three-Part Saving Series” tab or call 833-SAVEWIN (728-3946).

Keystone Scholars

Do you live in Pennsylvania and have a child born AFTER December 31, 2018? If the answer is yes, you may be eligible for $100 for your child. Call 800-440-4000 to find out more about Keystone Scholars or visit the website at http://www.pa529.com/keystone

Community Partner Announcements

CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Click Here to learn about the Carnegie Library’s In-person Service

TRYING TOGETHER RESOURCEs
Click Here for Trying Together’s November Events

THE LORD’S CHURCH
Will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Drive-In Prayer Service at Gateway Middle School, across from the new Get Go gas station off Parkway East. The service will begin at  7pm – 8:30 on December 31st.

DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARIES (City of Pittsburgh Residents)
Click Here Still enrolling children under 5 years old
 

Virtual Parent Meeting

Parents can now schedule a one-on-one virtual Zoom meeting to address any Fund My Future needs. Simply contact Ms. Toni Corinealdi at 833-SAVEWIN (728-3946)