Girl Scouts of The USA And MetLife Foundation Join Forces To Promote Financial Capabilities In Girls

Foundation's $800,000 Commitment Will Support the Girl Scout Global Financial Empowerment Initiative

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Sep 02, 2014, 01:12 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, MetLife Foundation announced its new, year-long partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and its $800,000 commitment to reach tens of thousands of girls through the Girl Scout Global Financial Empowerment Initiative. This initiative will provide girls with financial education and the required skills and tools they need to become financially capable.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute report Having It All: Girls and Financial Literacy, 90 percent of girls say it's important to learn how to manage money and 88 percent think it's important to set financial goals. Yet, only 12 percent feel very confident about making financial decisions.

"Empowering young people to understand personal finance is critical to improving their financial futures," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "Through our support of the Girl Scout Global Financial Empowerment Initiative we are providing girls with the necessary tools, skills, and knowledge they will need to make better financial decisions. We are proud to partner with Girl Scouts of the USA and their affiliates to further the financial capabilities of girls around the world."

GSUSA and the members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) understand the importance of financial empowerment for girls, especially those in low-income communities. They also fully understand that girls in certain communities face hardships that deter them from joining and participating in Girl Scouts. Various Girl Scout councils and member organizations work diligently to raise funds for these girls, and a GSUSA membership priority is to increase the participation of underrepresented girls through socially responsible partnerships.

"Financial capability is one of the most empowering and important skills that we can teach young girls today," said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. "The Girl Scout Movement is all about preparing the next generation of girls to be leaders in their own lives and their own communities so that they can make our world a better place. Teaching girls to be stewards of their own and their family's financial resources is the key to instilling them with the skills and confidence they will need to become leaders."

The initiative will use the GSUSA Financial Empowerment curriculum to teach girls about financial competencies including budgeting, credit scores, bank loans, credit cards, interest rates, and more. The following Girl Scout councils and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts members will participate in the initiative: Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Girl Scouts, Hornets' Nest Council (Charlotte, North Carolina), Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, and member organizations in Japan, Poland, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.

About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was created in 1976 to continue MetLife's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its founding through the end of 2013, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $600 million in grants and $70 million in program-related investments to organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. Today, the Foundation is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, committing $200 million over the next five years to help build a secure future for individuals and communities around the world. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U (800-478-7248) or 212-852-8000, or visit www.girlscouts.org.

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA