Financial education program sets SMART goals

Joining us now to talk about it is Bob Glowacki with St. Vincent de Paul. So how long has this program been around with the organization? This part of the program has been around, and the whole program has been around for 12 years. So actually, the Getting Ahead program you guys featured previously, this is an outgrowth that we did the plan. Now it's about putting it into action and actually making changes in the way that you spend your money. Yeah, you have such a strong chapter out there in Waukesha County. Why do you do this? What's the point of doing this for your community? You know, everything that we do comes out of our donations. So our members go out and meet with people one-on-one. And so they're giving them rent assistance. They're helping them with food and other things where they're struggling. And they said, we have to do more so that we actually change the scenario here. So we can help somebody a little bit. But now with this program, somebody can start to change their own lives and actually start to get some control versus counting on charity. And people are making all of these changes. how do you measure success in the program? Well, we measure, we don't, we don't measure it just on good feeling. The numbers are pretty amazing. Pretty much three quarters of them feel better about their financial stability, but more importantly, they're paying their bills on time. Three quarters are doing that completely and 90% avoid using payday loans. So these are the things that help build credit. You can talk about Kim trying to get her first home, or we have somebody recently who bought their own first used car that they can get back and forth to work. those are the things those are those are the wins we're looking at yeah those loans man they can be trouble for a lot of people so that's an amazing number to hear so what happens after they graduate do you find out the story past them as i talked about somebody getting their first car and being able to afford it and qualify for a loan or even our graduates as Jody was mentioning on that story they come back and become mentors and facilitators so they move it forward they pass it on and that's This is what's special about St. Vincent de Paul. Brett talked about being strangers. Now we're neighbors helping neighbors. And so to turn around and say, I've learned something. Let me pass it on to someone else and give up all your time for another human being. That's what makes the organization special. Is there any sort of cost to the program? How is it funded? You guys all pay for it. Every time you come and drop in our stores and shop at them or bring something in back or write that wonderful check or credit card, our Vincentians are committed to doing stuff at low cost or no cost. So all this stuff is free. All the support is free. It happens because people care about what goes on in Waukesha County and taking care of their local neighbors. And I love that Brett's reporting. Got you a new volunteer. And if other people are interested, check it out because it's awesome. Bob, thanks for coming in. Really appreciate it. Great stuff you guys are doing. Next month, we're going to learn more about a new program in Waukesha that's helping people gain a stronger financial footing. And if you want to see more of Brett's amazing Fox 6 Sense reports. Just look for them on the Fox local mobile app.