United Way of the Wabash Valley has awarded $90,000 through its Financial Freedom for All grant to Indiana State University ($20,000) and Junior Achievement in Wabash Valley ($70,000) over two years. These funds will support programs that equip participants with essential financial management skills. According to the Federal Reserve’s Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households report (2023), more than a quarter of U.S. adults struggle to pay bills, and only 36% of ALICE families in Indiana have emergency savings. Additionally, two-thirds of Hoosiers with financial investments have little knowledge of fraud risks. This initiative aligns with United Way’s mission to move households from financial struggle to stability.
ISU’s University Student Success and Advising Center, in partnership with the Office of Financial Aid, will offer financial literacy workshops for Pell Grant-eligible students. These workshops will cover budgeting, saving, and financial planning, helping students set responsible financial goals, track expenses, and make informed spending decisions. Students will also learn about financial aid options—including loans, grants, and scholarships—and strategies for managing student debt after college to attain financial independence.
Grant funds will also support the creation of a Textbook Resource Library, providing textbooks for 100- and 200-level Foundational Studies courses and those with high drop, fail, and withdrawal rates. Located in Normal Hall’s Student Success and Advising Center, this library will offer tutoring and peer coaching services for additional support. Additionally, ISU will purchase short-term loaner laptops for students whose devices do not meet college-level technology requirements, ensuring access to essential academic resources.
Junior Achievement in Wabash Valley (JA) will use its award to facilitate Family Financial Literacy Nights for families, individuals, and children across United Way’s six-county service area (Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, and Clark Counties). This new program will equip families with essential financial knowledge and skills to promote long-term economic stability. Adult participants will enroll in JA Young Adult Financial Literacy, a program covering budgeting, savings, taxes, credit, debit, and more.
Recognizing that access to affordable childcare is a significant barrier for many low-income families, JA will also provide financial literacy education to the children of program participants. This ensures that while parents gain the skills to secure their financial future, their children learn crucial financial concepts at an early age, helping to foster a generation of financially empowered individuals. By addressing both the immediate needs of families and the future of their children, this program aims to break the cycle of financial insecurity and build a more resilient, economically stable Wabash Valley.
United Way of the Wabash Valley volunteer Summer Long stated “I believe one of the most powerful ways to engage students is to let them take charge of their own learning. Programs such as these not only allow students to engage in learning but allows families to participate and learn as well. These types of programs are important to our community to help us feel united and continue to make the Wabash Valley a better place to raise a family.”
For more information about the Financial Freedom for All grant and United Way of the Wabash Valley’s efforts to promote financial stability, contact Michele Bennett, Community Impact Specialist, at mbennett@uwwv.org.
