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Mind on My Money campaign helps students tackle their No. 1 concern: Paying for college

4 min read

4 min read

November 18, 2013


SALT joins H&R Block Dollars & Sense (NYSE: HRB) and DoSomething.org as official strategic partner, reaching millions of college students with free money management tips and resources

When paying for college is the No. 1 concern for young people, above death, you know the situation is dire. Three in 4 students say they don’t know enough about personal finance and the average student loan debt for new college graduates is nearly $27,000(1).

To help students tackle their money management fears and challenges, SALT(TM) has teamed up with DoSomething.org and H&R Block Dollars & Sense for a partnership that brings millions of college students new, free and interactive personal finance resources. SALT is a free educational resource created by the nonprofit American Student Assistance, whose mission is to empower students and alumni to manage and repay their college loan debt.

“Tackling student loans and finances head-on doesn’t have to be stressful and boring. Through our alliance with DoSomething.org and H&R Block Dollars & Sense, we’re educating and energizing young people in fun and creative ways,” said Sue Burton, managing director of SALT consumer marketing. “Extending the reach of our free resources and tools will help even more young people take control of debt before it takes control of them.”

The partnership kicks off with Mind on My Money, a series of interactive workshops that make discussing finance relatable and engaging. The easy-to-follow workshops combine DoSomething.org’s expertise in rallying young people around important issues, H&R Block Dollars & Sense’s commitment to increasing teens’ financial fitness and SALT’s free student loan and finance resources.

“Mind On My Money teaches the skills and terminology young people need to successfully navigate the often confusing world of personal finance,” said Kathy Collins, chief marketing officer for H&R Block. “The workshops are fun, the topics are highly relevant and the time required is minimal. We love that it’s getting teens thinking about and talking to each other about money.”

According to the National Index on Young People and Volunteering, teens are the No. 1 influencers of other teens, and not having enough time is one of the top reasons young people give for not volunteering(2). Mind on My Money workshops were designed to include activities that are easy to do with friends and clearly state how long the workshops take (only 30 minutes) so participants have a sense of time commitment.

The three Mind on My Money workshops are:

  • Budgeting: “Check yourself before you wreck yourself”
  • Credit: “Life in plastic… it’s fantastic?”
  • Student Loans: “I got 99 payments and a loan is one.”

“Students are more concerned about paying for school than actually getting into college – or dying. That is a troubling fact. But when armed with the right resources, any young person can tackle this topic,” said Farah Sheikh, campaign lead at DoSomething.org. “Through Mind on My Money, and partners like SALT and H&R Block Dollars & Sense, we are empowering the next generation of Americans to take control of their situation and address their No. 1 concern head-on.”

To participate in Mind on My Money or learn more, visit Dosomething.org.money.

(1) Project on Student Debt (2) DoSomething.org national Index on Young People and Volunteering

About DoSomething.org

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn’t require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.

About H&R Block Dollars & Sense

Funded by H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) one of the world’s largest tax services providers, H&R Block Dollars & Sense provides personal finance curriculum to high schools and scholarships to students nationwide. Since 2009, H&R Block Dollars & Sense has donated more than $3 million in grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.hrblockdollarsandsense.com.

About SALT

SALT is a free educational resource that provides simple, smart, personalized ways for college students and recent graduates to take control of their student debt and manage their finances. With a combination of helpful tools, tailored information, and unbiased expertise, SALT helps young people borrow less, borrow smart and repay their loans in a way that works for them. SALT was created by American Student Assistance, a nonprofit organization with 50+ years experience helping people make better decisions about financing their education and repaying student loans. Visit www.saltmoney.org or call 617-728-4631 for more information.