HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA (March 10, 2014) – Two Enactus student teams from Saint Mary’s University and Memorial University of Newfoundland have been named 2014 Capital One Financial Education Challenge Regional Champions by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud program supporter, Capital One Canada.
The Capital One Financial Education Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach relevant financial skills. In the last two years, this challenge has engaged 1,316 students across the country, resulting in the delivery of 236 financial education outreach projects and directly impacting 17,206 community participants.
Teams at Saint Mary’s University and Memorial University of Newfoundland have enabled progress through the following community empowerment projects:
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 and social loans. Having collectively saved over $10,000, participants are using these funds to return to school and further their education.
Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Enactus team taught 1,345 elementary school students smart money management and fundamental financial skills through their Change Matters program, which is embedded in school curriculums in six provinces.
“We’re sponsoring this event because we see education as the primary driver to empowering Canadians to make wise financial choices,” said Brent Reynolds, VP, Credit & Marketing Analytics, Capital One Canada. “It’s truly been inspiring to see how these students are positively impacting the communities in which they live by sharing their financial know-how.”
Student teams demonstrated the impact of their financial education-focused projects to panels of industry professionals on March 7 in Halifax as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Atlantic Canada. The winning Enactus teams stood out to the judges because of their dedication to empowering people in need within their community.
“Through these projects, our student teams are transforming lives and building a more sustainable country,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “We are incredibly proud of our student leaders and their work to empower people across Canada through financial literacy education.”
These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place April 28-30 at the 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Calgary, Alberta.
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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 2,400 student leaders create and implement 350 community empowerment projects and business ventures every year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 36 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, and now includes the Aspire suite of rewards cards which are regularly cited by leading rewards experts for the great value they offer consumers. 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 of Communications
Enactus Canada
E: jody@enactus.ca
P:416.304.1566 ext.222
M: 416.346.0131