STRATFORD, Conn–For several years, Stratford School System’s BEST (Business Education Support Team) Program has partnered with Sikorsky Credit Union to bring financial literacy to students in town. Sikorsky Credit Union recently funded a $1,000 mini-grant for Financial Literacy, and recently made a presentation to the Stratford Board of Education.
Stratford’s BEST is designed to promote excellence by supporting teachers in their classroom efforts, and operates in many areas, from mentoring to scholarships. Stratford’s BEST provides grants for innovative and outstanding projects that otherwise would not be funded. Since 1987, over 50,000 students have benefited from BEST. Grants are awarded in a wide variety of subject areas, from academics to early childhood literacy, career development, community service and the arts. This year’s donation from Sikorsky Credit Union helped fund the “ALPHA School Store”, a in-school store run by the Stratford alternative high school program students, with direction from school staff. The goal of this program is to help students in the ALPHA program develop essential life skills by working in the store, and learning how a business operates.
“This mini-grant donation will help continue the financial literacy committee’s work in educating students to make informed financial decisions as they progress through life. We are appreciative that Sikorsky Credit Union does so many things to help our students become financially literate.” mentioned Diane Christiano, Coordinator, Career & Technology Education and the BEST liaison in the Stratford Public Schools.
“Working closely with students, I see first-hand the importance of financial literacy programs’, mentioned Jo-Anne Lucia, Youth Initiative Specialist at Sikorsky Credit Union. ‘We are dedicated to helping create a strong and financially literate community, and this partnership is one of the ways of achivieving that mission.” Stratford’s BEST is one of many community organizations that receive support from Sikorsky Credit Union.