“Making a Difference” is Orange County Business Council’s feature series that brings the face and voice of OCBC
members to life by sharing how they’re making a difference in their communities.
February 2025
Making informed decisions about money is important. Not doing so can have serious consequences. It’s never too early—and never too late—to learn about financial literacy. From a high school student’s first job, to taking out loans for college or a car, to managing a household, financial literacy can be the foundation toward self-sufficiency and well-being. And, for many employers who rely on a talented workforce that lives near their work, it can be a balance of stability for both sides. Read on to see what three Orange County Business Council investors—a family-owned bank, Farmers & Merchants Bank, a public school in Huntington Beach—Kinetic Academy—and two nonprofits—Goodwill Orange County and Orange County United Way—are doing to build financial confidence among students and families in Orange County.
Farmers & Merchants Bank
40+ years F&M Bank employee Phil Sblendorio leads a tour for students at F&M Bank’s main office in downtown Long Beach.
Q: Learning to make smart financial choices early in life can serve well beyond high school and college, and adulthood. What is your organization doing to encourage financial literacy in Orange County?
A: Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M Bank) offers a variety of programs that serve individuals at various life stages. There is no “one size fits all” approach. We tailor our programs to the audience we are trying to reach.
Our programs are carried out by all F&M employees as well as our leadership. Everyone at F&M understands the importance and can play a role in the execution of these programs.
Our bank approaches financial education not as a literacy or knowledge issue, but from a wellness perspective. With physical wellness, we are taught how to properly take care of our bodies and learn when something is good or bad for our health. The same perspective can be applied to finances. Knowing the information is only part of it; creating habits and modeling our behaviors to be in-line with our financial goals allows us to be financially healthy and successful. As such, it is not enough to simply share information: we go a step further and create opportunities and environments for long-term success.
Q: Paying bills and managing debt are just two steps to lead students, adults and families toward financial confidence and independence. Describe the programs and outreach that your organization offers.
A: Conduct in-school presentations for K-12th grade.
- Even at a young age, exposing children to terminology and concepts instrumental in adult life can be life changing.
- For middle and high school students, we cover more advanced topics that they can relate to like budgeting, credit, banking, paying for college, and understanding taxes.
We partner with college and university groups to deliver financial education. For example, we’ve partnered with student leader groups, career centers, and clubs to bring financial education workshops to their members. The programs we develop for college students typically include a range of personal finance topics, from the basics to more advanced topics like investing and retirement. We partner with non-profits to bring financial education to their clients/program participants. Non-profits typically work with vulnerable populations and are trusted by their clients. By partnering with these organizations to bring financial education, we can ensure credibility and tailor the information to make sure it is relevant and sensitive to their situation. Partnerships with non-profits provide a supportive approach for the participants, where the staff can continue to work with their clients on an individual level. F&M offers internal financial education workshops to our own employees to make sure we are providing equitable access to information, and make no assumption of knowledge. We also offer online workshops open to the community throughout the year.
Q: Whether it’s a student getting their first job or taking out loans to pay for college, or a young family learning to budget or invest, these are building blocks to financial literacy. What has your organization found to be the most crucial building block or skill set, and why?
A: All personal finance topics are interconnected and influence one another. We don’t believe that one is more important than the other, they are co-dependent. Investing is not possible without a budget in place, and retirement is not possible without a savings strategy in place. We typically start with budgeting, banking, and borrowing, and build from there. The most important building block is the empowerment to feel comfortable talking and learning about money/finances. Finances are such a personal and sensitive topic and getting over the stigma surrounding it is the first step. We do this by offering a safe space to learn and ask questions, whether that is through a school, a non-profit, or other trusted source.
Q: Name the local organizations or groups that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge to financial wellbeing.
A: F&M Bank helps to build bridges to financial wellbeing with Cristo Rey High School, South County Outreach, Vanguard University, Simon Scholars Program, Samueli Academy, Orangewood Foundation and Orange Coast College.
Q: How does your organization give students, adults or families the confidence to succeed in financial literacy?
A: We build confidence by being honest about the limited opportunities that exist to learn this information in one’s lifetime. Financial literacy is not universally taught in schools and not everyone has financially savvy parents who can pass down knowledge. By sharing this reality, we can remove the shame of not knowing. We empower through knowledge. We present our audiences with all the facts, and they can take the information to make the best decisions for themselves. For example, when we teach about different bank accounts, we explain what the pros and cons are of each one, and do not make assumptions of which they should or shouldn’t learn about. Participants are encouraged to make these decisions on their own and have the decisions be reflective of their needs and goals. We also break down topics to be digestible and accessible. Personal finance topics can be dense, complicated and overwhelming at times. We make no assumption of what is already known or not known. We cover all the terminology that they can expect to hear, provide relatable examples, and include activities that put concepts into practice. Connecting with our audiences on a personal level and sharing our own experiences is another form of helping learners to succeed. We’re all going through our own financial journey and can learn from one another.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do this kind of work?
A: F&M is committed to being of service to the communities we serve, and have maintained that commitment for 118 years. We take inspiration from Bank leadership who have time and time again gone above and beyond to respond to the needs of the community. As a financial institution, we have the responsibility of being good financial stewards and provide opportunities for our community members to strengthen and grow in their personal finances. As a community-centered bank, we see it as the right thing to do. We recognize that financial stability and security is foundational to addressing other issues in our local community including food insecurity, housing instability, and relationship violence. As a regional bank, F&M employees and their families live in the communities where we operate. Oftentimes, we are reaching our own neighbors, our kids, our friends, and family members through our programs.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continued mission to equip communities with financial literacy?
A: We will continue to offer programs in schools and through partnerships with non-profits, as well as virtual opportunities for the entire community. We hope to expand beyond personal finances and provide similar educational opportunities to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Plans include increasing our “train the trainer” efforts where we train the staff of non-profits, schools, and businesses to allow for long-term impact. We can empower staff to also be a trusted source for financial education for the clients they serve. We hope one day to launch an online financial education platform that anyone can access, wherever and whenever they need it.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Southern California is our home and, as such, it is our responsibility to take care of it, invest in it, and be responsive to its needs. We care for Orange County through various avenues and financial education is only one of them. We also provide financial support, volunteerism, and connectivity to help our communities thrive.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: Our favorite part is the fact that we get to be hyperlocal in our approach. We are pouring into the schools, community organizations, and places of worship that we, as employees, are connected to. It is personal for us and through our efforts, we all benefit from a healthier, prosperous Orange County.
Kinetic Academy
Students at Kinetic Academy in Huntington Beach, CA.
Q: Learning to make smart financial choices early in life can serve well beyond high school and college, and adulthood. What is your organization doing to encourage financial literacy in Orange County?
A: Kinetic Academy in Huntington Beach is a Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade public charter school that provides as many experiences as possible and exposes students to a variety of enrichment opportunities. One enrichment opportunity that has always been important to us is financial education. Having a strong platform for financial education built into our curriculum was an integral part of our founding and is embedded within our charter, so it will always remain a focus and a priority for our school.
Q: Paying bills and managing debt are just two steps to lead students, adults and families toward financial confidence and independence. Describe the programs and outreach that your organization offers.
A: We partner with Junior Achievement of Orange County, which is a financial education program offering curriculum for students based on grade level math and social studies standards. This classroom-based curriculum is focused around six sequential themes progressing through elementary grade level to middle school, each grade level having five hands-on activities to help students develop an understanding of business and economics. For instance, our 5th-grade classrooms use a student-run class economy system to teach financial literacy and life skills in a fun and engaging way. Students take on roles such as mayor, banker, and custodian, earning “salaries” while paying rent for their desks and saving for monthly auctions. This classroom management model fosters responsibility, ownership, and essential skills such as budgeting, teamwork, and accountability. In addition, as a project-based learning school, many projects have a financial component to help students learn concepts about finance, budgeting and money management. At the middle school, one elective offered to our students is a Finance and Stock Market Class. Students dive into the world of money management through fun, hands-on activities and friendly online competitions. From budgeting and saving, to smart spending, students tackle real-life financial challenges. They also get a chance to test their investing skills in a stock market simulation, track their “investments” and compete to see who can grow their virtual portfolio the most. It’s a practical, interactive elective where students earn valuable life skills and one of our most popular electives.
Q: Whether it’s a student getting their first job or taking out loans to pay for college, or a young family learning to budget or invest, these are building blocks to financial literacy. What has your organization found to be the most crucial building block or skill set, and why?
A: Financial literacy is built on several foundational skills, and we look at many of those skills as building blocks, especially within the classroom. Concepts build upon each other year after year as students get older and they can conceptualize money and finance. The most basic skill for students to start with and scaffold is budgeting. At the youngest level, budgeting can help them to understand concepts of needs versus wants and then move on to concepts of income versus expenses. Budgeting can also help students understand debt management as well as goal setting and savings habits.
Q: Name the local organizations or groups that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge to financial wellbeing.
A: We have been partnering with Junior Achievement of Orange County (JA) for almost a decade. Since 1919, JA has been a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to educating students, K-12th grade, about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness. Through volunteer-taught, interactive, age-appropriate educational programs, JA helps young people prepare for their adult roles by showing them how to think and generate income and effectively manage it, create jobs leading to more robust communities, and how to think like an entrepreneur. Through skills and concepts learned in JA, students are better prepared to enter, survive, and thrive in our global economy.
Q: How does your organization give students, adults or families the confidence to succeed in financial literacy?
A: Kinetic Academy provides students with practical and accessible financial literacy tools and resources. Our partnership with Junior Achievement gives students access to age-appropriate curriculum is based on grade-level standards. Junior Achievement is run by parent volunteers, and the volunteers are trained and supported to help ensure that students get what they need.
The student-run class economy empowers students to develop financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences integrated into the class routine. We provide a safe and engaging environment where students can practice earning, saving, and spending money responsibly, helping to build confidence in handling financial responsibilities. By starting early and making financial literacy relatable and fun, we set the foundation for lifelong financial competence and success. Project-based learning is embedded in real world concepts and skills. Through projects, we emphasize teaching practical skills, such as creating a budget, understanding costs, and distinguishing between needs and wants. Scenario-based learning helps our students simulate real-world financial decisions, giving them confidence to apply these lessons in everyday life.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do this kind of work?
A: We believe that in order to be successful citizens, children need to have the opportunity to develop a sound understanding of money management, business and the economy.
Our mission at Kinetic Academy is to educate and inspire lifetime learners by promoting academic success, community involvement, collaboration, and providing as many varied experiences as possible to our students. We believe that students learn best by experiencing and solving real-world problems. Kinetic Academy’s educational program emphasizes an integrated curriculum through project-based learning, real world learning application, multicultural understanding, and academic achievement for college readiness.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continued mission to equip communities with financial literacy?
A: As our school community evolves, our goal is to not only preserve but also enhance and expand the key aspects of our financial education program. Incorporating guest speakers, adding field trips and building elective courses at the middle school are all ways that we would like to build upon our program. We also want to help support out teachers to ensure that a financial aspect is included within each of the projects that they create.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: As a school of choice, Kinetic Academy provides parents with an option for their children’s education. We strive to maintain a small community feel as we build relationships with each of our families, while having high educational standards through a hands-on learning approach. Giving students opportunities that they typically would not have at a traditional public school allows us to stand out. Kinetic places a strong emphasis on community and giving back. Our students participate in 10 hours of Community Service annually which directly impacts where they live, and being a charter school, we have students coming from different parts of the region. Whether students are doing beach clean ups, handing out meals at local churches, volunteering at the wetlands or spending time at the Senior Center, Kinetic students are learning what it means to be part of a community and how to do their part to make a difference where they live.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: Our favorite part of focusing on financial literacy is watching students grow in confidence and skills through hands-on learning. We recognize the benefit of providing opportunities for students to take ownership and apply real-world concepts in an engaging and meaningful way. The enthusiasm and practical financial skills that our students develop highlights the success of our programs. It’s an added bonus that our parents volunteer in the JA program and are therefore learning partners.
Goodwill of Orange County
Nicholas Rivera of Orange County Credit Union facilitates “Building Credit,” a financial literacy course in Spanish at Goodwill of Orange County.
Q: Learning to make smart financial choices early in life can serve well beyond high school and college, and adulthood. What is your organization doing to encourage financial literacy in Orange County?
A: Goodwill of Orange County supports the community and its 1,500+ team members helping them to enhance their financial literacy by offering services designed to expand their basic financial knowledge and provide tools to help them make the best financial management decisions. These include programs that allow early access to earned wages before payday, access to financial coaches, as well as financial education courses and resources to promote their financial well-being.
Q: Paying bills and managing debt are just two steps to lead students, adults and families toward financial confidence and independence. Describe the programs and outreach that your organization offers.
A: Building financial confidence and independence play a key role in our mission to help people achieve their goals. One program we offer internally is DailyPay, a program that helps our team members with debt management and paying bills. DailyPay offers team members the option to access their earned wages before payday when necessary. This feature helps employees manage unexpected expenses or make timely payments, reducing the need to rely on high-interest loans.
Q: Whether it’s a student getting their first job or taking out loans to pay for college, or a young family learning to budget or invest, these are building blocks to financial literacy. What has your organization found to be the most crucial building block or skill set, and why?
A: An effective way to engage a diverse demographic of team members in financial literacy is by offering hybrid courses—both in-person and online. These courses cover a wide-range of topics relevant to wide financial goals, whether someone is learning the basics of savings, to someone who may be getting ready for retirement. We have established meaningful partnerships with credit unions that provide valuable workshops on topics such as Budgeting 101, Building Credit, Buying Your First Car, Mortgages, and Retirement Planning. The feedback from our team members about these financial literacy sessions led by subject matter experts has been overwhelmingly positive. These workshops not only enhance financial knowledge, but also have a lasting impact on their personal lives.
Q: Name the local organizations or groups that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge to financial wellbeing.
A: Goodwill of Orange County has cultivated positive relationships with credit unions including Eagle Community Credit Union, Orange County Credit Union, OneEleven, and DailyPay. For 2025, we will continue to foster the relationships and continue adding educational programs to help our team members make the best financial decisions.
Q: How does your organization give students, adults or families the confidence to succeed in financial literacy?
A: By providing monthly courses led by financial subject matter experts, our team members and the community gain confidence in all aspects of financial management and have opportunities to ask questions and seek advice about real-time challenges. Financial matters can also be very personal, so to help our team members be confident in asking financial questions, we provide free access to financial coaches, where employees can meet one-on-one with financial experts to discuss their personal financial goals. This personalized guidance has provided team members with valuable insights to help them achieve their financial aspirations and feel confident to approach future financial decisions.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do this kind of work?
A: Our mission drives us to support our team members in achieving their goals through personal growth, meaningful work experiences, and career advancement. The dedication our team members show toward our mission and their passion for their roles inspire us to continually seek new opportunities to help them succeed both personally and professionally. When we hear of a story of success from our team members, that is the ROI we seek.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continued mission to equip communities with financial literacy?
A: We plan to continue strengthening our established partnerships and fostering new collaborations with credit unions to equip our team members and the wider Orange County community with valuable financial knowledge and tools. Our team members consistently respond positively to new learning opportunities in this space. This year, we also plan to offer financial literacy courses in Spanish to ensure more inclusive access to these valuable resources.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Making a difference in Orange County for us is fulfilling our mission and amplifying our impact further throughout the county. We look for more opportunities to enhance the lives of individuals in O.C. whether that is realized through hiring someone here at Goodwill OC, providing skill development resources and job training, matching leading employers in OC with ready and eager employees, or building leadership skills that can help them secure their future and advance in their career aspirations.
We envision a caring and connected community where everyone has access to meaningful career opportunities. Everything we do aims to make that vision a reality.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: Our favorite moments are when a community member becomes part of the Goodwill OC team and we see them flourish, when a team member gains new skills to succeed in their role and beyond, when the light bulb goes on for an individual that they CAN succeed in a great career pathway, when someone earns a well-deserved promotion, or when a team member takes the next step toward their career goals. We are especially proud when we can provide someone with the opportunity to earn a living wage and build a brighter future.
Orange County United Way
SparkPoint OC team members at opening of new SparkPoint location.
Q: Learning to make smart financial choices early in life can serve well beyond high school and college, and adulthood. What is your organization doing to encourage financial literacy in Orange County?
A: Orange County United Way United for Financial Security initiative is dedicated to empowering Orange County families to build stable and self-sufficient lives. The initiative equips families with the knowledge and tools to achieve financial security by delivering programs that focus on key strategies for stability: strengthening safety nets, enhancing financial wellness, developing workforce solutions, and promoting public awareness and education.
Q: Paying bills and managing debt are just two steps to lead students, adults and families toward financial confidence and independence. Describe the programs and outreach that your organization offers.
A: Through the United for Financial Security initiative, we offer several impactful programs to support financial wellness. Our programs include SparkPoint OC, which promotes financial empowerment through free one-on-one financial coaching, UpSkill OC, a workforce development program that provides an innovative collaborative approach to bridging the skills gap and creating pathways to jobs that pay a living wage, as well as OC Free Tax Prep, which helps families keep their hard-earned money through saving on preparation fees, claiming tax credits, and receiving their refunds quickly and safely.
These resources empower the community to address their specific needs, make informed financial decisions, and achieve long-term financial stability.
Q: Whether it’s a student getting their first job or taking out loans to pay for college, or a young family learning to budget or invest, these are building blocks to financial literacy. What has your organization found to be the most crucial building block or skill set, and why?
A: We focus on working with young parents, ensuring they have strong budgets, improved credit scores, and are earning a living wage to achieve financial stability for their families. By equipping parents with the confidence and knowledge to teach their children the basics of financial wellness, we help break the cycle of poverty. The message of financial empowerment is most impactful when it comes from within the family unit.
Q: Name the local organizations or groups that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge to financial wellbeing.
A: We partner with a wide network of organizations throughout Orange County to build pathways to financial well-being. These partnerships include community-based organizations like Abrazar, Chrysalis, and Working Wardrobes, as well as over 20 other organizations within our OC Free Tax Prep program alone. Together, we collaborate with schools, government agencies, and businesses to provide comprehensive support systems that empower individuals and families to achieve lasting financial stability.
Q: How does your organization give students, adults or families the confidence to succeed in financial literacy?
A: United for Financial Security empowers students, adults, and families with the confidence to achieve financial literacy by providing personalized support and practical resources that meet individuals where they are. Through our programs, participants gain a clear understanding of key financial concepts and the skills to apply them in their daily lives, fostering lasting financial independence and long-term stability.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do this kind of work?
A: One out of every three households in our community struggle to meet their most basic needs. That’s a jarring number and it’s what drives our mission to help ensure everyone in Orange County is financially stable. We are committed to caring for one another because that’s #TheOCWay.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continued mission to equip communities with financial literacy?
A: Last year, we celebrated Orange County United Way’s 100-year anniversary, and we are looking forward to the next 100 years of making an impact. We are committed to expanding all our programs by opening additional SparkPoint OC locations, establishing more OC Free Tax Prep sites, and strengthening our UpSkill OC workforce development program. However, we can’t do this alone. We are actively seeking more community partners to join us! Learn how you can get involved by contacting [email protected].
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: United for Financial Security is making a measurable difference in Orange County. We’ve seen the following results:
- Through SparkPoint OC, 668 households have been coached in how to effectively budget, get out of debt, build savings, attain assets, qualify for services, and improve or establish credit to ultimately find financial stability.
- Through OC Free Tax Prep, 13,629 people were served during the 2024 tax season, with a $21.3 million local impact.
- Through UpSkill OC, over 50 individuals received educational scholarships, financial assistance to support their training, career coaching, and job placement services.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: We often hear directly from the individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by our programs, and there is no greater feeling than knowing we’ve helped them. These personal stories remind us why we do this important work. Financial literacy changes many lives and ultimately helps build a stronger Orange County.
