DALLAS, Texas, August 26, 2020 – Comerica Bank and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas announced today that they have launched a financial education partnership composed of three components: 1) college savings investment strategies, 2) higher award incentives, and 3) a financial education patch program.
"We are excited to embark on this innovative partnership," said Megan Burkhart, Comerica Bank Chief Human Resources Officer and Girls Scouts of Northeast Texas volunteer and former board member. ”The Girl Scouts 108-year legacy of financial empowerment and entrepreneurship programming aligns well with Comerica’s commitment to equipping youth with the core financial principles to navigate the rapidly evolving economy. We leverage our Comerica Money $ense curriculum and lend our professional expertise and virtual resources to provide equitable access to financial education while establishing a path to financial capability.”
Comerica Bank Regional External Affairs Manager Vanessa T. Reed kicked off the partnership last month, virtually presenting the “Financing Higher Education - College Knowledge” Comerica Money $ense module to 20 GSNETX Summer College Experience participants. During the workshop, the following topics were covered – potential earning power of college graduates; college funding options: 529 plans, scholarships and loans; early FASFA completion and submission with parental guidance; and college cost assessment: trade school, community college, and public and private university. She also introduced the cohort to the Comerica Bank Money $ense online portal and challenged them to compete the remaining modules.
The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are the highest honors in Girl Scouting at each respective age-level and encourages girls to commit to taking action to solve community problems, recognizing the needs in their local environments, and taking the lead in everyday issues as confident and courageous Girl Scouts. In addition to Comerica sponsoring the 12 higher award workshops in 2020, the bank also will award 15 grants of up to $100 (Bronze Award), $250 (Silver Award), or $1,000 (Gold Award) for girls to complete these community projects. In order for troops and Gold Award Girl Scouts to apply for this funding from the council, they must complete the Comerica Money $ense online modules.
In partnership with Comerica, GSNETX also will host virtual financial education workshops prior to the 2021 Cookie Program to enhance their entrepreneurial efforts. Girls who complete the Comerica Money $ense curriculum will be eligible to match Girl Scout cookie donations to first responders and other essential workers and to earn a Comerica Bank financial education patch.
"Entrepreneurship is one of the four pillars of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and we’re so grateful that Comerica Bank is also focused on enabling girls to own their own businesses, embrace entrepreneurship, and develop leadership skills through earning their Higher Awards,” said Ashley Crowe, Chief Program Officer, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. "Seventy-one percent of girls served by GSNETX are considered low-to-moderate income and will benefit greatly from the programs, financial education, and investment by Comerica in their futures."
About Comerica Bank
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $84 billion at June 30, 2020 and celebrated its 170th anniversary in August 2019.
About Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
Girl Scouts is building a pipeline of strong, confident girls. As the experts in how girls learn, Girl Scouts provides relevant programming that focuses on life skills, STEM, entrepreneurship and the outdoors – helping girls develop the confidence to know they can do anything they put their minds to. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves more than 25,000 girls and 12,000 adult volunteers across 32 counties. In 2018, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas opened the STEM Center of Excellence, a 92-acre state-of-the-art camp just outside Dallas where girls can experience programs in astronomy, robotics, coding, computer science and more. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas was recognized as a 2018 Tech Titan Technology Advocate Finalist, received the 2017 Million Women Mentors Stand Up for STEM Award and was named 2016 CNM Connect Nonprofit of the Year. Learn more at gsnetx.org or call 972-349-2400.
