PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Washington Trust Company has been awarded the 2018 Financial Capability Innovation Award by EverFi, Inc. and its Financial Capability Network for the Bank’s commitment to empowering youth through financial literacy and its support of the innovative EverFi learning platform, which the Bank introduced into Providence high schools earlier this year. Rhode Island State Treasurer Seth Magaziner presented Washington Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Edward O. “Ned” Handy III, with a proclamation in recognition of the award.
“We are honored to receive recognition for our financial literacy program from both EverFi and the General Treasurer’s Office,” said Handy. “Washington Trust is dedicated to meeting the financial needs of the communities we serve, and this program provides high school students with the tools, skills and education they need to make informed financial decisions in the future.”
Handy and State Treasurer Magaziner worked closely to bring the EverFi program into Providence public high schools, joining in a common goal of providing access to effective financial literacy programming across Rhode Island.
“As Treasurer, and a former school teacher, I have seen the importance of teaching financial literacy as early as possible,” said Rhode Island State Treasurer Seth Magaziner. “I am pleased to join EverFi in recognizing Ned Handy’s leadership, as Washington Trust has made their support of teaching financial literacy a priority. This collaboration is an excellent example of what community partnerships can achieve.”
Washington Trust has implemented EverFi’s web-based program into six Providence high schools, including; Providence Career & Technical School; Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School; Hope Arts School; Mount Pleasant High School; E-Cubed Academy; and Classical High School, and will be offering it in additional schools starting this fall. The program is administered by teachers within the classroom, and teaches, assesses and certifies students in a variety of relevant financial topics including credit scores, insurance, credit cards, student loans, mortgages, taxes, stocks, savings, 401k’s and other critical concepts that map to national financial literacy standards.
“Each year, we honor institutions that are truly dedicated to going above and beyond in service to their communities,” said Ray Martinez, EverFi President of Financial Education. “The Financial Capability Innovation Awards have given us the opportunity to share and celebrate the tremendous investment these institutions are making and continue to make in the communities where they live, work, and serve.”
ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST®
Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation and one of the Northeast’s premier financial services companies. Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management and trust services through its offices located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ:WASH). Additional information on Washington Trust and its subsidiaries can be found at https://www.washtrust.com/.
ABOUT EVERFI
EverFi, Inc. is the leading education technology company focused on teaching, assessing, and certifying K-12 and college students in the critical skills they need for life. The company teams with major corporations and foundations to provide the programs at no cost to K-12 schools. Some of America’s leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EverFi investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Twitter founder Evan Williams, Rethink Education, New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA), and Tomorrow Ventures (the investment arm of Google Chairman Eric Schmidt). Learn more at www.everfi.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tony Nunes
Public Relations
401.348.1657
ajnunes@washtrust.com