Recent Grants Awarded

LifeWise STL
Chief Community Engagement Officer, Pier Alsup, presents a check for $10,000 to the Kingdom House


"The grant from the Foundation has allowed us to start building a strong financial literacy base with our middle school participants. It provides them the knowledge to make sound decisions and to stay away from bad credit practices that could haunt them for a lifetime. The Foundation has been a great partner to LifeWise STL in giving our youth a strong financial foundation."

- Scott E. Walker, President/CEO of LifeWise STL
 

Mission
To help people achieve better lives, and teaching people to fish rather than just feeding them fish.

History of the Organization
Founded in 1902, it began as a settlement house by a shoe manufacturing executive who wanted to help the poor, many of whom were immigrants. The settlement house movement was popular at this time, spreading across the United States. Unrelated middle-class women and men lived cooperatively as “settlers” who hoped to share knowledge and culture with their low-paid, poorly educated neighbors. They provided services such as daycare, education and healthcare in an effort to alleviate poverty. More than 100 years after their founding, they continue to provide critical social services to the poorest of the poor in St. Louis. 

To learn more about LifeWise STL, visit their website here!

Grant At Work
In September 2018, the Together Foundation donated $10,000 to LifeWise STL. 

Financial literacy programming will be offered monthly , covering the basics of financial concepts that are relevant to their lives now and as they become young adults making decisions around debt, school and credit. Participants will demonstrate an increase in knowledge around basic home finance concepts, debt, personal banking, college savings, what a college loan is, etc. 

The organization is seeking funding to add financial literacy program content consisting of two focus areas: financial literacy and small business exploration. The program would use the "Your Money, Your Goals" curriculum for monthly classes during the school year.

Topics would include basic home finance concepts, debt, personal banking, and an introduction to college costs and student debt. During the school year, the students would focus on some kind of financial literacy project. Students would put together a small business plan. Examples would include a community garden, or "mini business" (such as babysitting or cutting grass).

During the year, in addition to financial literacy, they could be putting together a mini business plan. LifeWise STL wants to introduce these concepts to the middle school age students, opening them up to the idea of how a small business could impact their futures. At the end of the school year a culminating event would take place such as a field trip or a showcase where they show what they learn.