Grant winner using prize to teach at-risk girls about money

Judges for the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund apparently thought Jennifer Harper’s Common Cents program made sense. The Hixson resident was named one of Hello Tomorrow Fund’s weekly winners — receiving a $5,000 cash prize to put her plan into action.

As a certified financial planner, Ms. Harper, 30, has worked with her share of high net worth clients. But her heart led her to volunteering with women who had lost everything and were being assisted by the Women’s Crisis Center of Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.

“I knew the background for a lot of these women was that either through abuse or homelessness they were in the Crisis Center because they had nowhere to go,” Ms. Harper said.

After volunteering two months in the crisis center, though, she realized the women were past preventive measures and in need of consumer counseling.

“I felt I could do more in prevention,” she said.

Ms. Harper said she believed she would have a greater impact if she could reach younger girls and prepare them with basic financial knowledge to avoid heavy debt when they were on their own at 18.

Partnership staff referred her to state-run group homes, she said. She also taught a financial skills class at Girls Inc. and at Tyner Recreation Center through Chattanooga Parks and Recreation.

As she developed her program, she named it Common Cents. She had the plan but needed funding to buy curricula, print materials and publicize and expand her program.

Helen Smith at Partnership told her about the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, a contest funding projects that would empower women.

Last fall, Ms. Harper applied online. She said it involved answering about 10 questions on her program, how many women it would reach and how it would impact and improve their lives.

Two weeks ago, she came home and found a $5,000 check in the mail.

Last week, Common Cents got its start in the Partnership’s Title 1 Life Skills class.

“Life Skills teaches some money management, shopping for groceries, personal hygiene, how to get a driver’s license, how to budget and look for an apartment,” said Rachel Oleksik, Partnership coordinator of Title 1 services.

“These are things my mom and dad taught me, whereas these kids don’t have anybody to do that for them,” the Partnership employee said.

Ms. Oleksik said 32 teens in four group homes are enrolled in the Common Cents program.

“Any teenager thinks they know it all, but once we get into the nitty-gritty with them they listen because a lot of them are about to be out on their own. Next week we are breaking down a budget about how much they’ll need to live in an apartment and needs vs. wants.,” Ms. Oleksik said.

“I hope this award helps get awareness of the Common Cents program out to the public,” said Ms. Harper. “It’s teaching something that affects everyone, no matter what income or education level. Everyone pays taxes, everyone has some type of financial responsibility.

“I tell kids it’s not like there is anybody out there who is making good financial decisions 100 percent of the time. Everybody makes mistakes,” said Ms. Harper. “I just want to keep them from making the same mistakes over and over.”