Latest news with #FinancialLiteracyforAll
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Operation HOPE and Financial Literacy for All Celebrate Record-Breaking Success of Green Socks Day Challenge
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Operation HOPE and Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) announced today that they achieved record-breaking impact following this year's inaugural Green Socks Day Challenge, which mobilized corporate partners and drove a surge in new clients seeking Operation HOPE's no-cost financial coaching services. Launched to celebrate the advancement of financial literacy as a national priority during Financial Literacy Month, the Green Socks Day Challenge took place on April 30, with individuals, organizations and businesses across the country participating by wearing green socks, taking the Financial Literacy Quiz, and sharing their stories on social media. A total of 52 Operation HOPE corporate partners and members of the FL4A initiative joined the Green Socks Day Challenge, helping to embed financial literacy into workplace culture and conversation. Participating partners included: Walmart, MasterCard, US Bank, Truist, Huntington Bank, iHeart Media, Delta Airlines, MLB, MLS, Nascar, Nasdaq, NBA, NHL, Shopify, OpenAI, and UPS, among other prominent organizations. These partners activated employees, customers and communities through financial literacy events, in-office campaigns, and digital engagement strategies – demonstrating a shared commitment to building a more financially empowered nation. Lastly, Operation HOPE saw an meaningful increase of new client enrollments for its no-cost financial coaching programs with more than 6,700 new client sign-ups in April. The #GreenSocksDay social media campaign generated over 1 million impressions and top posts were featured on Nasdaq's Times Square Tower in New York City, creating a powerful visual moment that amplified the call to action to promote financial literacy. FL4A and Operation HOPE plan to continue this annual tradition and build on this momentum throughout the year to provide free access to financial coaching, educational programs, and corporate partnerships to build a more financially empowered America. For more information or to get involved, visit About Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) Launched in 2021, Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) is a national initiative co-chaired by John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, and Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart. FL4A is dedicated to embedding financial literacy into American culture, ensuring that financial education becomes a lifelong learning priority for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. FL4A is backed by leading corporate partners committed to making financial literacy accessible to all. For more information, visit About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been a driving force in economic empowerment, shifting America from civil rights to "Silver Rights"—a movement to ensure free enterprise and capitalism work for all. Through its award-winning HOPE Inside model, which received American Banker's Innovator of the Year recognition, Operation HOPE has impacted over 4 million individuals, directing more than $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities. With a mission to turn check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into entrepreneurs, and minimum-wage workers into financially independent individuals, Operation HOPE continues to redefine economic inclusion. The organization recently earned Fast Company's "World Changing Ideas" Award and has been recognized with ten consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator for fiscal transparency and accountability. For more information, visit and follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Operation HOPE Partners with City of Aurora, Illinois to Launch Child Savings Account Program for All Public School Kindergarteners
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, today announced that its partnership with the City of Aurora, Illinois to provide Aurora resident public school kindergarteners with an educational savings account has officially launched. Operation HOPE was selected by the City as the non-profit partner to manage the newly-established program, called Aurora's Promise. The program supports the mission of Operation HOPE and the core values of the Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) movement, which strives to embed financial literacy into all aspects of American life – especially in underserved communities. Aurora's Promise will give each of the City's kindergarten students an educational savings account with a starting balance of $50. The goal is for parents and caregivers to contribute to the savings accounts over the years, and funds will be able to be used for any educational expenses after high school, including college or trade school. The City will also be developing financial literacy programs as part of Aurora's Promise. The program seeks to play a critical role in improving financial literacy and expanding opportunities for higher education by providing Aurora students with a strong financial foundation. Spearheaded by Mayor Richard Irvin and approved by the Aurora City Council, the City of Aurora will contribute nearly $2 million to Operation HOPE to support this impactful program, which is the first municipal child savings program in Illinois. 'We are thrilled to partner with the City of Aurora to bring this forward-thinking initiative to its youngest residents,' said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE. 'By planting the seeds of financial literacy early—starting with a savings account for kindergarteners—we're not just helping individual children prepare for college or trade school, we're setting entire families and communities on a path toward long-term economic stability. This investment is about more than money - it's about hope, opportunity, and ultimately, strengthening communities.' For more than 30 years, Operation HOPE has implemented impactful financial literacy initiatives, including a similar child savings program through its partnership with the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools, which was announced in 2021. Through this program, more than 10,500 accounts have been opened as of April 30, 2025, offering students and their families a meaningful start toward long-term financial empowerment. The program has become a model for how local governments can invest in the financial futures of their youngest residents. For more details about Aurora's Promise, visit: About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Francis Taught the World a Lesson About Capitalism
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 26: Pope Francis attends a Mass in St .Peter's Square for the first World Children's Day on May 26, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by) Credit - Getty Images—2024 Franco Origlia On Monday morning, the world lost more than a religious leader. We lost a moral compass. A global shepherd for the poor. A gentle warrior who dared to tell the powerful the truth about their responsibilities to the powerless. His Holiness Pope Francis didn't just preach from the pulpit—he lived among the people, especially the forgotten. In doing so, he redefined what moral leadership looks like in our time. I'm not Catholic. But I have always admired Pope Francis—not simply for his spiritual authority, but for his economic clarity. He understood something most leaders still struggle to grasp: the economy is not just a system. It's a reflection of our values. And if our values are broken—if we worship money more than we uplift people—then the system will break too. Pope Francis believed in capitalism, but not the kind that exploits, extracts, and abandons. He believed in an economy that works for everyone—especially the poor, the marginalized, the excluded. I call this 'Good Capitalism.' And in his own way, so did he. Poverty is not just about money. It's about a lack of access, a lack of opportunity, a lack of belief. It's about systems that were never designed to work for everyone—but can be reimagined to do exactly that. Pope Francis preached the same gospel in different language. When he said, 'No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world,' he was calling out the same economic injustice that inspired me to found Operation HOPE and launch Financial Literacy for All. When he declared that 'an economy that excludes kills,' he wasn't being dramatic. He was being accurate. There's a reason why Pope Francis chose the name of St. Francis of Assisi—the patron saint of the poor. He led with humility. He refused to live in the grand papal apartment. He drove a modest car. He washed the feet of prisoners. This wasn't theater. It was theology. It was servant leadership in its purest form. And it was a quiet rebuke of the pride and greed that too often define our public life. Pope Francis said, 'The rich must help, respect, and promote the poor.' His life—and his death—should challenge all of us to ask harder questions: What kind of economy are we building? Who is it leaving behind? And what would it mean to put people—not profits—at the center of our decisions? For me, this isn't just theory. It's practice. I've seen what happens when we teach someone how money works—when we improve a credit score, help someone buy their first home, or support a small business in a struggling community. Dignity returns. Hope is restored. And the economy grows—not just in dollars, but in strength. This is what Pope Francis understood: that the economy is not a math problem. It's a moral problem. And solving it starts not in boardrooms or bank vaults, but in hearts. He may have been a pope. I'm just a businessman from Compton. But we both believed in the same truth: that we rise by lifting others. And that capitalism, when done right, can be one of the greatest tools for good the world has ever known. Pope Francis believed in 'Good Capitalism.' I do too. And now more than ever, the world needs us to prove that it's possible. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Pope Francis Taught the World a Lesson About Capitalism
On Monday morning, the world lost more than a religious leader. We lost a moral compass. A global shepherd for the poor. A gentle warrior who dared to tell the powerful the truth about their responsibilities to the powerless. His Holiness Pope Francis didn't just preach from the pulpit—he lived among the people, especially the forgotten. In doing so, he redefined what moral leadership looks like in our time. I'm not Catholic. But I have always admired Pope Francis—not simply for his spiritual authority, but for his economic clarity. He understood something most leaders still struggle to grasp: the economy is not just a system. It's a reflection of our values. And if our values are broken—if we worship money more than we uplift people—then the system will break too. Pope Francis believed in capitalism, but not the kind that exploits, extracts, and abandons. He believed in an economy that works for everyone—especially the poor, the marginalized, the excluded. I call this 'Good Capitalism.' And in his own way, so did he. Poverty is not just about money. It's about a lack of access, a lack of opportunity, a lack of belief. It's about systems that were never designed to work for everyone—but can be reimagined to do exactly that. Pope Francis preached the same gospel in different language. When he said, 'No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world,' he was calling out the same economic injustice that inspired me to found Operation HOPE and launch Financial Literacy for All. When he declared that 'an economy that excludes kills,' he wasn't being dramatic. He was being accurate. There's a reason why Pope Francis chose the name of St. Francis of Assisi—the patron saint of the poor. He led with humility. He refused to live in the grand papal apartment. He drove a modest car. He washed the feet of prisoners. This wasn't theater. It was theology. It was servant leadership in its purest form. And it was a quiet rebuke of the pride and greed that too often define our public life. Pope Francis said, 'The rich must help, respect, and promote the poor.' His life—and his death—should challenge all of us to ask harder questions: What kind of economy are we building? Who is it leaving behind? And what would it mean to put people—not profits—at the center of our decisions? For me, this isn't just theory. It's practice. I've seen what happens when we teach someone how money works—when we improve a credit score, help someone buy their first home, or support a small business in a struggling community. Dignity returns. Hope is restored. And the economy grows—not just in dollars, but in strength. This is what Pope Francis understood: that the economy is not a math problem. It's a moral problem. And solving it starts not in boardrooms or bank vaults, but in hearts. He may have been a pope. I'm just a businessman from Compton. But we both believed in the same truth: that we rise by lifting others. And that capitalism, when done right, can be one of the greatest tools for good the world has ever known. Pope Francis believed in 'Good Capitalism.' I do too. And now more than ever, the world needs us to prove that it's possible.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Operation HOPE and Financial Literacy for All Launch Green Socks Day Challenge to Advance Financial Literacy Across America
Green Socks Day to Take Place April 30 as a National Call to Action for Financial Literacy Month ATLANTA, March 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an effort to celebrate the advancement of financial literacy as a national priority, Operation HOPE and Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) today announced the launch of the Green Socks Day Challenge, a nationwide initiative to take place on April 30. This movement aims to bring attention to the urgent need for financial literacy and empower individuals, organizations, and communities to take action, start learning, and support financial education for all. Green Socks Day, powered by FL4A, is designed to be a visible and engaging way to highlight financial literacy during the month of April, Financial Literacy Month. Throughout April and culminating on April 30th, individuals, organizations, and businesses nationwide are invited to join the Green Socks Day Challenge by: Wearing green socks to start the conversation about taking positive steps toward your financial future. Through the support of Walmart, limited edition green socks are available for purchase on Taking a quiz to test your level of financial literacy. Sharing photos on April 30th in your green socks on social media using the hashtag #GreenSocksDay and tagging @OperatonHOPE. Select photos will be displayed on Nasdaq's Times Square Tower in New York City. "Financial literacy is the foundation for economic empowerment, yet most Americans never receive formal financial education in school or informal money management lessons at home," said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE & Co-Chair of Financial Literacy for All. "Green Socks Day is more than a campaign—it's a national call to action to ensure that every American has the knowledge and resources to achieve financial dignity and success." Corporations, small businesses, and community organizations are encouraged to participate in Green Socks Day by engaging employees in the initiative, hosting financial literacy events, and promoting financial literacy resources. FL4A and Operation HOPE provide access to free financial coaching, educational programs, and corporate partnerships to help drive financial empowerment at scale. About Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) Launched in 2021, Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) is a national initiative co-chaired by John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, and Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart. FL4A is dedicated to embedding financial literacy into American culture, ensuring that financial education becomes a lifelong learning priority for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. FL4A is backed by leading corporate partners committed to making financial literacy accessible to all. For more information, visit About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been a driving force in economic empowerment, shifting America from civil rights to "Silver Rights"—a movement to ensure free enterprise and capitalism work for all. Through its award-winning HOPE Inside model, which received American Banker's Innovator of the Year recognition, Operation HOPE has impacted over 4 million individuals, directing more than $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities. With a mission to turn check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into entrepreneurs, and minimum-wage workers into financially independent individuals, Operation HOPE continues to redefine economic inclusion. The organization recently earned Fast Company's "World Changing Ideas" Award and has been recognized with ten consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator for fiscal transparency and accountability. For more information, visit and follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Media Contacts Kevin Bill Mendelbill@ Sign in to access your portfolio
