Chairman Donald E. Powell
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Remarks
At Operation Hope's
Banking on Our Future Across America 2002
Closing Ceremony H.D. Woodson High School
November 19, 2002
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
PR-123-2002 (11-19-2002) Rosemary George (202) 898-6530
(Chairman Powell was introduced by Money Smart graduate Nicola Waldron. Her
remarks precede his.)
Good afternoon, My name is Nicola Waldron. I am a recent graduate of the Money
Smart financial education program at Project Empowerment of the D.C. Department of
Employment Services.
I am proud to be here today to give testimony about what the Money Smart training
program means to me, and to introduce a man who through Money Smart has made a
big difference in my life - Don Powell, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation.
Let me say ladies and gentlemen that before taking the Money Smart training program, I
used to take my check to the liquor store next door to my place of employment, and
they would take out a lot of money every time just to cash my check. Since receiving the
Money Smart training, I have opened a direct deposit bank account with a real bank. My
whole paycheck is now mine to keep. While I was already aware of some of what I
learned in the Money Smart training, I think the training really made me see the benefit
of managing my money better, and gave me the incentive to take steps to open a bank
account and save my money.
I share what I learned with my four children as well, especially about saving money. I'd
like to thank the man responsible for making this financial education available to me and
my family, Mr. Don Powell, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
FDIC for short.
Not only did he make this training possible, but Mr. Powell and his staff at FDIC make
sure that my savings at my bank are safe.
Let’s give a big round of applause to Don Powell to let him know what Money Smart
means to us, and show him how much we appreciate his work with financial education!
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Remarks
At Operation Hope's
Banking on Our Future Across America 2002
Closing Ceremony H.D. Woodson High School
November 19, 2002
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
PR-123-2002 (11-19-2002) Rosemary George (202) 898-6530
(Chairman Powell was introduced by Money Smart graduate Nicola Waldron. Her
remarks precede his.)
Good afternoon, My name is Nicola Waldron. I am a recent graduate of the Money
Smart financial education program at Project Empowerment of the D.C. Department of
Employment Services.
I am proud to be here today to give testimony about what the Money Smart training
program means to me, and to introduce a man who through Money Smart has made a
big difference in my life - Don Powell, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation.
Let me say ladies and gentlemen that before taking the Money Smart training program, I
used to take my check to the liquor store next door to my place of employment, and
they would take out a lot of money every time just to cash my check. Since receiving the
Money Smart training, I have opened a direct deposit bank account with a real bank. My
whole paycheck is now mine to keep. While I was already aware of some of what I
learned in the Money Smart training, I think the training really made me see the benefit
of managing my money better, and gave me the incentive to take steps to open a bank
account and save my money.
I share what I learned with my four children as well, especially about saving money. I'd
like to thank the man responsible for making this financial education available to me and
my family, Mr. Don Powell, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
FDIC for short.
Not only did he make this training possible, but Mr. Powell and his staff at FDIC make
sure that my savings at my bank are safe.
Let’s give a big round of applause to Don Powell to let him know what Money Smart
means to us, and show him how much we appreciate his work with financial education!
Chairman Powell’s remarks:
Thank you so much, Nicola.
That’s a wonderful testimony and a great endorsement of the Money Smart curriculum.
I am more and more convinced that financial education -- particularly for those families
who are outside the financial mainstream -- is one of the most important things we as
Americans can be engaged in today.
Helping folks achieve and sustain the American Dream is why we at the FDIC made the
decision to develop Money Smart in the first place.
I see Money Smart as a tool kit to help people begin building a more secure financial
future for themselves. The plain fact is, if money is not working for you, it’s probably
going to be working against you. But by using the tools provided by the Money Smart
curriculum, students can take control of their finances and put their money to work for
them.
Currently, millions of Americans do not have a banking relationship with any traditional
financial institution. Millions of our citizens use so-called "fringe banks," like Nicola
Waldron did. And, as Nicola knows, the costs of using their services and products are
far greater than the costs of traditional bank services and products.
But Nicola and thousands of others who have used Money Smart took control of their
financial future and are building a brighter future.
Earlier today John Bryant of Operation HOPE and I spent some time with a group of
students who are studying Money Smart. I can tell you one thing - you guys are a lot
more focused and smarter than I remember being at your age.
I’m proud to be here today to help Operation HOPE conclude this five-day nationwide
marathon for financial literacy. I applaud the work of Operation HOPE; their tireless
efforts to introduce economic empowerment in underserved communities; and I applaud
all of you involved in this effort.
I also want to take this opportunity to recognize some of our Money Smart graduates
and local partners. These partners are organizations and institutions that have worked
collaboratively to establish a Money Smart financial education program here in the
District of Columbia not far from where we are now.
It’s called the Project Empowerment Money Smart model site. A model site is a place
that not only uses the Money Smart curriculum, but also links financial education to
other community development services.
The Project Empowerment Money Smart model site partners came together in late
summer of this year. As we heard earlier from Ms. Waldron, participants have already
Thank you so much, Nicola.
That’s a wonderful testimony and a great endorsement of the Money Smart curriculum.
I am more and more convinced that financial education -- particularly for those families
who are outside the financial mainstream -- is one of the most important things we as
Americans can be engaged in today.
Helping folks achieve and sustain the American Dream is why we at the FDIC made the
decision to develop Money Smart in the first place.
I see Money Smart as a tool kit to help people begin building a more secure financial
future for themselves. The plain fact is, if money is not working for you, it’s probably
going to be working against you. But by using the tools provided by the Money Smart
curriculum, students can take control of their finances and put their money to work for
them.
Currently, millions of Americans do not have a banking relationship with any traditional
financial institution. Millions of our citizens use so-called "fringe banks," like Nicola
Waldron did. And, as Nicola knows, the costs of using their services and products are
far greater than the costs of traditional bank services and products.
But Nicola and thousands of others who have used Money Smart took control of their
financial future and are building a brighter future.
Earlier today John Bryant of Operation HOPE and I spent some time with a group of
students who are studying Money Smart. I can tell you one thing - you guys are a lot
more focused and smarter than I remember being at your age.
I’m proud to be here today to help Operation HOPE conclude this five-day nationwide
marathon for financial literacy. I applaud the work of Operation HOPE; their tireless
efforts to introduce economic empowerment in underserved communities; and I applaud
all of you involved in this effort.
I also want to take this opportunity to recognize some of our Money Smart graduates
and local partners. These partners are organizations and institutions that have worked
collaboratively to establish a Money Smart financial education program here in the
District of Columbia not far from where we are now.
It’s called the Project Empowerment Money Smart model site. A model site is a place
that not only uses the Money Smart curriculum, but also links financial education to
other community development services.
The Project Empowerment Money Smart model site partners came together in late
summer of this year. As we heard earlier from Ms. Waldron, participants have already