The 2014 Capital One Financial Education Challenge Helped 9,700 Canadians Improve Their Lives Through Financial Education.

EnactusHighRes-29CALGARY, AB (April 30, 2014) – For the second year in a row, Saint Mary’s University has been named the 2014 Capital One® Financial Education Challenge National Champion by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud supporter Capital One Canada. The national competition took place at the 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Calgary.

The Enactus team at Saint Mary’s University empowered 31 at-risk youth in Halifax to plan for their futures through a financial education program called Options, which couples money management training with social loans. Having collectively saved over $10,000, participants are using these funds to return to school and further their education.

“Every time I judge, I continue to be impressed with the caliber of financial literacy programs all of the teams are delivering as part of the Capital One Financial Education Challenge,” said Ian Hanning, Chief Financial Officer, Capital One Canada.  “I want to congratulate Saint Mary’s University for being this year’s champion and for their commitment to helping Canadians improve their money management skills.”

The Capital One Financial Education Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that will educate Canadians on how to make informed and positive financial decisions that will ultimately improve their quality of life.  The Enactus team from Saint Mary’s University embodied the values of financial education to win this challenge by empowering youth and change their future prospects.

“Financial education is vital for strengthening communities across the country and Enactus Saint Mary’s University is making these skills available to youth,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “The results of their engaging and effective project are undeniable and have positively impacted young people in Halifax through financial literacy skill development.”

The 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition welcomed more than 1,200 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs supporting entrepreneurial action through competition, recognition and education.

For news throughout the year and competition results during the event, please visit @Enactus_Canada on Twitter.

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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada is a community of student, academic and business leaders enabling progress through entrepreneurial action. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,300 student leaders create and implement over 350 community empowerment projects and business ventures every year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 39 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

ABOUT CAPITAL ONE: With offices in Toronto and Montreal, Capital One has offered Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard credit cards since 1996, when the company first introduced the Platinum MasterCard in Canada. Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF). Capital One is committed to investing in youth in our communities through program investment and the skills and dedication of our talented associates.

Media inquiries
Jody Lundrigan
Director, Communications
Enactus Canada
E: jody@enactus.ca
P: 416.304.1566 x 222
M: 416.346.0131