All news New Award Program

January 30, 2013

Macatawa Bank Launches New Award Program to EncourageFinancial Literacy for High School Students

Recognizing the critical importance of financial literacy, Macatawa Bank has launched a new award program open to students at 61 West Michigan high schools.

The "Emergency Fund Grant" Essay Contest, which will provide more than $10,000 annually in awards to promote the benefit of savings.  The program is open to students taking the Dave Ramsey Foundation Financial Literacy course, sponsored by Macatawa Bank, at public, charter and private high schools in Kent, Ottawa and Allegan counties.

Students will be asked to write an essay of 300-600 words addressing one of three questions drawing from the principles learned in their Ramsey course: describing the most valuable thing they have learned, advice they would give to a younger brother or sister about money or how they are going to apply key principles learned in class to their future lives.

All essays will be evaluated by the Macatawa Bank Marketing and Compliance Department, along with industry professionals Archie Blood and Mary Ann Sabo.  Blood is founder of Westshore Financial Services and an adjunct instructor for Davenport College.  The principal and founder of Sabo Public Relations, Sabo has more than two decades of experience in public relations and journalism.  The team will select 20 essays, which will then be evaluated by the Dave Ramsey Foundation, who will select the final winners by June 1, 2013.

Emergency Fund Grant Essay Contest Official Rules

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