FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2008

Contacts: LeDon Jones
Young Professionals
(205) 583-3216 (Office)
(205) 913-9006 (Cell)
ljones@first-american.com

Elaine S. Jackson
President & CEO
(205) 326-0162
ejackson@birminghamurbanleague.net

“Know Your Money” Program Returns To Birmingham with Financial Management Tools for African American and Latino Professionals

BIRMINGHAM – The Birmingham Urban League and Honda Financial Services are proud to announce the return of the well-received economic empowerment program, Know Your Money™. Introduced six years ago in five cities initially, and now being hosted in Birmingham for the third consecutive year, the multi-market, curriculum-based program is designed to strengthen the economic foundation of African-American and Latino communities and bring about a systemic change in attitudes about money and money-management.

For 2008, the initiative starts on Saturday, March 15 and is coordinated by the Birmingham Urban League Young Professionals (BULYP) chapter. Part of the program’s goal is that participants in Birmingham will form new attitudes about money and money management. Surveys conducted at the end of the Know Your Money™ sessions revealed that 90‰ of participants were starting to make positive changes in their personal money management as a result of the course, found the coursework invaluable, and would recommend the program to others. Other students similarly gave the program high marks, stating that the lessons they learned from Know Your Money would definitely enable them to chart a more positive financial future.

“Birmingham is proud to be selected once more as one of the sites for this outstanding financial management program—especially given the financial challenges facing our constituents and the impacts of today’s foreclosure crisis, said Elaine Jackson, President and CEO, Birmingham Urban League. “The time is ripe for an educational initiative like this one focusing on money management, which presents relevant information to young professionals, along with thoughtful guidance and practical steps toward achieving their financial goals.”

The National Urban League’s Know Your Money program, which includes a three-class curriculum taught by financial industry experts over a two month period, will provide young African-American and Latino professionals with a more comprehensive understanding of personal money management. The curriculum, designed by financial consultant and author Carla J. Cargle, includes coursework focused on improving participants’ understanding of budgeting, the value of money and other essential tools of personal asset management. At the conclusion of the three-part course, program participants are armed with the tools and foundation upon which to build long-term economic stability for themselves, their families and their communities.

Carmen Mays, a former program participant says, “Know Your Money is an exceptional program and one of a kind learning experience. I learned many things from the class that I as a young person do not think about--for instance the importance of life insurance and a living will. Mortality is not a subject most young people think about and the thought of having life insurance and a will had never crossed my mind. I learned to confront my spending habits and modify them to be both beneficial in the long and short term.”

Enrollment in Know Your Money™ courses will be limited to 100 participants in Birmingham, in order to allow for an interactive learning environment. Interested individuals may apply by visiting the official program website at www.nul.org/KYM. The courses in Birmingham will be conducted Saturday, March 15, Saturday, March 29 and Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The final session will be followed by a graduation ceremony. Melvin Carrington Smith, Sr., a Senior Chief Financial Planner with Birmingham-based First Financial Group, Inc., will facilitate the class sessions.

Applications will be received and processed by the Birmingham Young Professional chapter, and those accepted for enrollment will be required to pay a one-time $10 registration fee, that reserves their space and covers course materials, class sessions and refreshments.

About the National Urban League (www.nul.org)
Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.

As part of the National Urban League’s ongoing efforts to cultivate future African-American business and political leadership, the NUL established the National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) organization in 2000. The Birmingham affiliate was established in 1967.

Today, there are more than 48 Young Professionals chapters in cities throughout the nation, working together with the affiliates of the NUL to support financial literacy, real world education and related political participation programs and initiatives for African-Americans. For more information about the National Urban League and the NULYP, please visit the organization’s Web site.

About American Honda Finance Corporation/ Honda Financial Services American Honda Finance Corporation was established in 1980 as a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Doing business as Honda Financial Services, its mission is to increase customer satisfaction by helping consumers finance their purchase of Honda and Acura automobiles, motorcycles, power and marine equipment, parts and accessories. For more information about American Honda Finance Corporation, visit the Web site at HYPERLINK "http://www.HondaFinancialServices.com" www.HondaFinancialServices.com.

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