Financial Empowerment Through Culturally Responsive Education

Develops educational tools and creates forums for disseminating financial literacy information, including virtual and in-person educational sessions with Q/A components and corporate consultancy, specifically tailored for Black LGBTQ identifying individuals.

Provides grants through the AHC and AHOD programs for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or improvement of homes for low- and moderate-income families in Cattaraugus, Erie, and Wyoming Counties.

Offers free financial literacy programs in Cattaraugus County covering budgeting, credit, and money management for youth and adolescents.

Provides education and counseling to help clients prepare for homeownership, including budgeting, credit understanding, and housing loan options.

Provides safe, decent, and affordable rental housing for low- to moderate-income individuals and families across Cattaraugus, Erie, and Wyoming Counties.

Supports and operates three community gardens in the City of Olean and Cattaraugus County, promoting access to healthy food and providing recreational and social opportunities for residents.

Offers educational programs on lead poisoning prevention in pre-1978 homes and on carbon monoxide risks and prevention related to fossil fuel combustion in residential settings.

Provides safety-focused housing support and services for senior citizens to ensure secure and accessible living environments.

Administers or supports the M/WBE certification process in New York State to promote business ownership and contracting opportunities for minorities and women.

Provides an 8-week (or 7-session) financial education curriculum to underrepresented high school students through college student tutors, teaching long-term investing, personal finance, stocks, and bonds. Upon completion of a capstone project and attendance requirements, students receive $100 invested in low-cost, diversified mutual funds, with positions transferred to their individual brokerage accounts when they turn 18. The program operates in partnership with high schools and youth-serving organizations across multiple states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alaska, and Washington, DC.

Recruits college students to serve as tutors in the financial literacy program, providing them with training and support to deliver curriculum content to high school students. Includes organizing networking events with professionals to support tutor engagement and development.

Provides ongoing financial education workshops and programming for children and youth ages 5 to college level, covering money management, budgeting, goal-setting, savings, and the banking system. Programs include biweekly Zoom workshops and curriculum that guides youth in creating personal financial plans.

Organizes and hosts a recurring annual event in April to celebrate and promote financial literacy among youth and families.

Provides guidance and resources to parents to help them engage their children in financial literacy through family conversations and shared budgeting activities.

Awards multi-year scholarships of up to $15,000 per student to cover tuition and living expenses for students with talent and drive whose grade point averages fall below minimum requirements for other foundations due to mitigating circumstances. Supports an average of 145 students annually, with scholarships paid directly to accredited institutions across the United States.

Distributes toys or meals to youth and families in underserved Brooklyn communities each December, with ongoing service to residents in Marcy, Tompkins, and Summer Houses and surrounding areas since the Foundation's inception.

Provides financial empowerment, wealth building, and investment education through workshops and a 12-week free educational program in bitcoin and general financial literacy for residents of Marcy Houses in Brooklyn, NY. Programs are delivered in collaboration with Bridges To Wealth and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, serving SCF scholars, parents, and local communities since 2017.

Provides full study-abroad scholarships through a partnership with the Institute of International Education/Gilman International Scholarship Program to expand global experiences and leadership opportunities for underserved students.