{"id":22330,"date":"2015-01-19T18:57:41","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T18:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resource-center.hrblock.com\/newsroom\/hr-block-awards-14-million-in-grants-and-scholarships-through-teen-financial-literacy-program\/"},"modified":"2023-03-02T14:23:50","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T20:23:50","slug":"teen-financial-literacy-program","status":"publish","type":"newsroom","link":"https:\/\/hrbcomlnp.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/newsroom\/around-block\/our-purpose\/teen-financial-literacy-program\/","title":{"rendered":"H&R Block awards $1.4 million in grants and scholarships through teen financial literacy program"},"content":{"rendered":"

One exemplary high school and its students won $227,500 in scholarships and grants<\/h2>\n

As part of its commitment to teen financial literacy, H&R Block recently awarded $1.4 million in classroom grants and student scholarships through its H&R Block Budget Challenge. The online simulation allows students to experience paying bills, managing expenses and more in the safety of a classroom\u2014where a mistake is not nearly as costly as in the real world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to arm teens with the personal finance skills and confidence they need to succeed when they are out on their own,\u201d said Kathy Collins, chief marketing officer at H&R Block. \u201cH&R Block Budget Challenge is an investment in American teens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seventeen classrooms received a total of $112,500 in grants and 67 students each received $20,000 college scholarships. But of the 32,000 high school students in more than 2,000 classrooms nationwide that competed, one exceptional high school in Alabama demonstrated a true mastery of the Challenge.<\/p>\n

Guntersville High School teacher Sherry Brown and her students secured $227,500 in prizes. The school, in a town of approximately 8,000, received two grants\u2014the maximum allowed\u2014and 11 of its students won $20,000 scholarships. Brown, who teaches economics and government, is incredibly proud of the way her students embraced the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program sparked a fire inside my students that was simply amazing to witness. It has increased their financial understanding and desire to learn, and taught them financial responsibilities. Through the H&R Block Budget Challenge program and \u2018power of doing,\u2019 they realized they could make better decisions,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n

Another $1.6 million in prizes will be awarded this semester and teachers can still register.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

H&R Block Budget Challenge helps to address the need for more financial education. Only 7 percent of high school students<\/a>1<\/sup> are financially literate and fewer than 30 percent<\/a>2<\/sup> of adults report being offered financial education at school or college.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there is still time for classrooms to get involved in the H&R Block Budget Challenge and compete to win big. At the conclusion of the program in April 2015, H&R Block will award an additional $1.6 million in grants, scholarships and cash prizes, including a $100,000 grand prize college scholarship to the student who is most \u201creal-world ready\u201d \u2014 bringing the company\u2019s total investment in teen financial education to $3 million for the 2014-2015 school year.<\/p>\n

Three classroom simulations remain in this year\u2019s H&R Budget Challenge program for 2015 and teacher registration is open for the following two simulations:<\/p>\n