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BOSTON – Women’s Money Matters, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women with essential financial skills, is thrilled to announce the receipt of a significant grant from Womenade Boston. This generous support will bolster the organization’s Life Launch program, enabling more young women to establish a strong financial foundation and gain the confidence necessary for future success.

Financial education among young women is of utmost importance, yet the statistics surrounding this issue are alarming. According to the Office of Economic Empowerment, less than 20 high schools in Massachusetts currently mandate a full semester of financial literacy education. Furthermore, a mere 12% of girls feel very confident in making financial decisions, despite a striking 90% expressing a strong desire to learn how to better manage their money, according to research conducted by Girl Scouts.

Recognizing the urgent need to bridge this educational gap, Women’s Money Matters has been steadfast in its commitment to empowering young women through its comprehensive financial wellness programs. The Life Launch program, in particular, focuses on equipping participants with vital financial skills and building their confidence to make informed financial decisions.

Thanks to the generous grant from Womenade Boston, Women’s Money Matters can expand the reach and impact of the Life Launch program. The grant will facilitate the development of tailored curriculum materials, recruiting and training volunteer coaches, and workshops designed to empower young women with practical financial knowledge. This financial education as well as the ongoing support will serve as a solid foundation for young women, equipping participants with the tools needed to navigate financial challenges and achieve long-term financial security.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Womenade Boston for their invaluable support of our Life Launch program,” said Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director at Women’s Money Matters. “This grant will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the young women we serve, enabling them to establish a strong financial foundation and gain the confidence necessary to thrive in their personal financial and professional lives.”

Through ongoing collaboration with partners like Womenade Boston, the organization continues to provide life-changing resources and guidance that inspire financial independence, resilience, and success among young women.

For more information about Women’s Money Matters and its programs, please visit https://womensmoneymatters.org/

 

About Women’s Money Matters:

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

December 6, 2022

Media Contacts: Ariana Contreras

([email protected])

520-456-5965

Women’s Money Matters Graduate Speaks on the Impact of Cliff Effects

Deonne Luacaw spoke on the impact the cliff effect has had on her finances and employment. 

 

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, which builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes, connected program graduate Deonne Luacaw to be featured in an article by Fed Communities about the economic cliff effects. The cliff effect is the gap between what someone will be earning in a new job and the value of the public assistance benefits that person loses as a result. The cut off for benefits is often lower than the income needed to earn to replace that benefit. 

 

Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters, on the cliff effects “In our financial wellness programs our participants frequently share their struggles with the cliff effect and that they have the desire to enter the workforce or seek better paying jobs. However when they increase their incomes they can’t afford childcare costs, it will change the amount of their housing vouchers and increase their rent, plus the loss of food assistance would be difficult due to the rising costs of essentials like groceries.”

 

Due to the cliff effect, people like Luacaw who get financial support from public assistance can end up worse off after joining the workforce, accepting a pay raise or promotion, or moving to a better-paying job. Luacaw shared, “We’re going to write out my goals, how much I can put into savings, when to pay my rent—these are the priorities. Before [Women’s Money Matters], I was never paying my bills on time. Now, I have steps. I have a calendar with reminders, just to anticipate these things. I never had a checking account. They helped me navigate through that. It’s these things that I wasn’t taught. I was just trying to survive.”

Read the full article here. 

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About Women’s Money Matters:

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching.

About Fed Communities 

Through applied research, public programs, outreach and technical assistance, Federal Reserve community development teams help promote economic growth and financial stability in low- and moderate-income communities across the country.

Women’s Money Matters Graduate Speaks on Inflation’s Impact on NBC Nightly News 

Deonne Lucaw spoke on the impact inflation has had on her finances. 

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, which builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes, connected program graduate Deonne Luacaw to NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, bringing voice to the impact inflation is having on women living on low-incomes. Lucaw shared with NBC about the burden placed on her as a single mother providing for her children due to the increased cost of necessities like utilities. 

Lucaw shared “ We are hanging on by a thread. Instead of paying the whole light bill, I may have to put something down on it, so I can get my kids the other things they need.” 

Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters said, “We appreciate Deonne’s willingness to share her experience to highlight how macroeconomic conditions and systemic inequalities are so often felt most by those living on the economic margins. In the course of our programs we hear so many women share similar experiences as they face these barriers and struggle with increasing prices and cost living.”

Women’s Money Matters provides financial wellness programs for women that include interactive expert-led workshops, one on one coaching from a trained volunteer, and small supportive peer cohorts. Women’s Money Matters connects participants to direct financial relief, community resources, and financial experts. 

Watch the NBC Spotlight here. 

# # #

About Women’s Money Matters:

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women living on low-incomes through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching.

Women’s Money Matters Announces Partnerships with Direct Financial Relief Organizations

Women experiencing unexpected financial hardships can now receive direct financial support  

Women’s Money Matters, formerly Budget Buddies, has been providing financial wellness, confidence and security to hundreds of women living on low-incomes for over a decade and began offering direct financial assistance to provide relief when many women lost income when the Covid pandemic hit. Now, the organization is excited to announce new partnerships with organizations to provide additional financial relief directly to women who are experiencing financial hardships.

Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters shares “The responses we got when we reached out with emotional and financial support during Covid were heartbreaking – getting low on baby formula, going shopping with my last $60, 38 weeks pregnant with no income – and now, with inflation and prices rising, we’re beyond excited to have developed partnerships to allow us to offer continued financial support to the women in our programs – past and present!” 

The mission at Women’s Money Matters is to empower women on their financial wellness journey and assist them in planning for not only everyday living expenses but unexpected expenses as well. 

According to the Federal Reserve’s 2018 Survey of Household Economics and Decision Making, roughly 40% of Americans would struggle to come up with $400 to pay an unexpected bill. These large and unexpected expenses can derail an individual’s spending plan and cause women to go into further debt. 

Through its direct financial relief partners, currently including The Boston Bullpen Project, Bridge Forward Fund, and NeighborShare, Women’s Money Matters is able to help facilitate even more immediate relief to both current and past participants during challenging times to assist with emergency car payments, medical bills, rent, support leaving an abusive relationship, and more. 

“We are so proud to be partnered with Women’s Money Matters. Their operation and mission is a wonderful fit for Boston Bullpen Project,” said Steve Alperin, Founder of Boston Bullpen. “We look forward to years of working with them and providing assistance to their clients.”

Our partner organizations have made it their mission to assist individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet, and we are grateful for their continued support. Past participants who are in need of direct financial assistance are encouraged to contact Women’s Money Matters for more information. 

“I want to thank you for helping me by paying my mortgage and rent for June 1st for me,” said Tabitha, a Women’s Money Matters Collective Program participant from New Hampshire who received relief through the partnership with Boston Bullpen. “It has also allowed me a few extra weeks of relief knowing I won’t be behind while waiting for assistance and next steps to go through. I can relax a tiny bit and take time with my kids and show them mom can relax and not stress every day.”

“If it wasn’t for [the relief donation] my husband would’ve had to miss work, I wouldn’t have been able to drive my kids to school and we wouldn’t have had enough for the rent,” said Elizabeth, a Women’s Money Matters participant who graduated in February from a program in Lowell and needed support for an unexpected car repair. “I know it doesn’t seem like much, but for us it was everything to receive that help.”

Women’s Money Matters is grateful for the support of its direct relief partners and looks forward to working with other organizations. If you are interested in partnering with Women’s Money Matters to provide assistance to women living on low-incomes, please visit our website. 

BOSTON – A statement from Women’s Money Matters on the Massachusetts FY2023 Budget:

“We are grateful to the Massachusetts Legislature for its continued commitment to improving the financial lives of women in Massachusetts living on low incomes. Thanks to the funding Women’s Money Matters received in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, we are able to offer our programming directly to women across the state.

“We are thankful to State Representative Dr. Tami Gouveia and Senator Jamie Eldridge for leading these efforts and to Conference Chairs Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Sen. Michael Rodrigues, Rep. Ann Margaret Ferrante, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Rep. Todd Smola, and Sen. Patrick O’Connor for their support. We are excited to continue serving women wherever the need is greatest statewide.”