Since 1987, the Young Americans Center for Financial Education has taught over 400,000 young people about finance, economics and business. Yet, in a 2008 national survey conducted by Jump$tart Coalition, more than half of nearly 6,000 high school seniors failed a multiple choice test on basic financial knowledge.

That’s why Young Americans partnered with First Data to develop a curriculum that teaches responsible use of debit and credit cards. With a donation of 45,000 plastic cards from First Data and CPI Card Group and a lesson plan designed by professional educators, over 28,000 children annually, in 334 schools in 44 Colorado school districts, are learning to be wise consumers using the payment technology of tomorrow today.

Joe Samuel, senior vice president Global Public Affairs for First Data, talks about educating kids about wise use of debit and credit cards. Watch Now

Visit www.yacenter.org to learn more about Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

First Data actively supports Junior Achievement’s (JA) vision of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy by educating them about the economics of life.

Utilizing First Data employee volunteers in the classroom, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students focusing on entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy to prepare tomorrow’s workforce today. Equipped with a unique educational model and curriculum, our employee volunteers across the country donate their time to teach in the classroom, serve on local JA boards, and fundraise to help JA fulfill its mission. Worldwide, JA reaches 9.3 million kindergarten through 12th-grade students in 123 countries annually.

“Junior Achievement is dedicated to preparing individuals of all ages to excel in the workplace. We value First Data as a partner and its demonstrated commitment to helping us realize our goal by investing time and resources to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in young people nationwide.”

– Jack Harris, President, Junior Achievement of Georgia

Visit www.ja.org to learn more about Junior Achievement‘s worldwide program.

For 50 years, ACCION has provided small loans to low-income borrowers around the world who seek to start up and succeed at a new business. Today, there is a growing recognition that simply providing financial services to the poor is not enough, and that micro-entrepreneurs need to learn how to develop a business and make it prosper.

First Data supports ACCION in India to help provide thousands of individuals with training and techniques to strengthen and grow their new ventures. With First Data’s financial support, ACCION’s “Business Development Skills” curriculum now contains new material on sales strategies, marketing and pricing, and rights and responsibilities of a borrower. The greater the skill level of today’s micro loan recipient, the more likely the business will succeed, resulting in expanded global commerce and more financially independent individuals.

Visit www.accion.org to learn more about ACCION and their micro loan programs.

Photos of ACCION entrepreneurs

A silent auction checkout at the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame fundraiser is the smoothest in the event’s history, thanks to a gift by First Data. First Data’s FD400 Wireless Payment Terminals eliminate the need for using unwieldy paper credit card forms and provide secure payment transactions during the fundraiser. JA of Georgia now use the state-of-the-art, hand-held wireless terminals at other annual events, enhancing the organization’s efficiency and the donor experience.

“One of our goals is to improve JA operations through technology, allowing for better customer service and more efficient utilization of staff time with the ultimate goal of then serving more students. These First Data credit card terminals allow us to do just that.”

– Jack Harris, CEO, Junior Achievement of Georgia

Visit www.georgia.ja.org to learn more about Junior Achievement of Georgia and its hands-on curriculum.