Media Advisory

Contact: Barbara Lewis

Director, Communications

(313) 823-7982 blewi@lssm.org

Lutheran Social Service and Time Inc.’s Money magazine provide financial literacy training for former foster children

WHAT:   Financial literacy classes for 20 young adults, 18 to 24, who “aged out” of the foster care system

WHERE:      The Carl E. Thomas Center, adjacent to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan’s headquarters at 8131 E. Jefferson Ave. Detroit (1.5 blocks east of Van Dyke). Parking is available in the adjacent lot.

WHEN:   Classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 2, Wednesday, February 3 and Thursday, February 4.

Participants will have a completion ceremony and receive certificates on Thursday, February 4.

WHO:     Presenters include:

Donna Rosato, senior writer at MONEY magazine who also teaches financial literacy to disadvantaged young adults through Good Shepherd Services in New York City. Contact donna_rosato@moneymail.com .

George Mannes, a senior writer at MONEY magazine since March 2005, covers personal finance and writes about how families handle money issues. Contact George_mannes@moneymail.com.

Ryan Charles Mack, President of Optimum Capital Management, LLC in New York. Mack, a Detroit native and graduate of the University of Michigan Business School, also founded an after-school mentoring program that focuses on teaching financial planning principles to youth.

WHY:     Most youth learn a lot about personal finance from their parents – how to budget, open a bank account, use a credit card. Youth in foster care do not have that resource, and many are at serious disadvantage when they enter the “adult” world at the age of 18.

Media coverage welcome – Thursday session would be ideal because participants could discuss what they learned.