URBANA, Ill. Financial challenges are real for most people in our community. Last year, University of Illinois Extension’s volunteer Money Mentors helped over 100 community members with their financial goals. This year more people are likely to seek help. You can help others by becoming a Money Mentor volunteer.
Money Mentor volunteers complete 30 hours of financial education and coaching training with University of Illinois Extension educators. Mentors are then matched with people who seek help with financial goals such as paying down debt, building spending plans, saving for dreams, and organizing their finances.
For participants, being matched with a mentor is like having their own personal, financial coach to reach their goals.
Our next Money Mentor training begins January 26, 2021; the twelve weekly trainings are Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Training sessions include online class discussions by Zoom. Each week includes homework in the form of activities, readings, and online training. Assistance is available for anyone who is not familiar with Zoom meetings. For more information, visit our website at http://go.illinois.edu/MoneyMentors. Registration is required.
“We completed an online training session this past summer, and it worked well,” reports Kathy Sweedler, Extension Educator. “Money Mentors volunteers have been working with participants by phone, email, and online since then. Congratulations to the mentors for providing free, unbiased mentoring during this difficult time.”
There is a $40 cost for training; partial scholarships are available. Currently, the Money Mentors program is available to residents in eleven Illinois counties: Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion, Livingston, McLean, Woodford, Kankakee, Will, Grundy, and Cook counties.
If you have questions regarding the Money Mentors program, please contact Kathy Sweedler, Consumer Economics Educator, sweedler@illinois.edu or 217.333.7672.
Help from mentor volunteers is free and confidential. For more information, visit https://go.illinois.edu/MoneyMentors or call 217.333.7672.
SOURCE: Kathy Sweedler, Consumer Economics Educator.
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.