FIU Business has received a $1.7 million grant from the Truist Foundation to expand the reach of a high school financial literacy program, delivered through the Truist FIU Financial Wellness Clinic, to school systems across the U.S.

Currently, students of four public high schools in Miami-Dade County and parents participate in the National Academy Foundation’s (NAF) Academy of Finance (AOF) program. The five-year grant will allow the clinic team to deliver the Truist-FIU Finance curriculum to eight high schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Additionally, the program, which began in person and is now offered virtually, will be made available to schools in other Florida districts and nationally. On the national level, teachers and high school students in at least 140 U.S. cities will have access to the curriculum.

The technology-intensive Truist FIU Financial Wellness Clinic aims to increase college readiness and financial literacy for participants, who learn how to responsibly spend, save, borrow, and be smart consumers when shopping for financial services and insurance.

“Financial literacy skills are vitally important for both students and their parents, who must make prudent, well-informed financial decisions as they approach college and careers,” said FIU Business Dean Joanne Li. “We are grateful for the support of the Truist Foundation, which has enabled FIU Business to share our knowledge base of financial planning skills with not only our South Florida community but also with families across the nation.”

The expansion of the program will begin virtually in spring 2021. As FIU’s campus repopulation allows, students from selected schools will be able to visit the Truist FIU Financial Wellness Clinic several times per year for workshops on various financial literacy topics.

“At Truist, we understand the importance of building wealth to improve economic mobility, and we want to instill those concepts in students as early in life as possible,” said Tony Coley, South Florida regional president for Truist, speaking on behalf of the Truist Foundation. “Our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and we know financial wellness leads to happiness and future success.”

FIU Business will continue to host students from Academy of Finance schools in South Florida at the “I am C²” College & Career Ready Conference, to be held virtually as needed, in partnership with the National Academy Foundation. They also will be invited to complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certification, a 10-hour self-paced e-learning course on financial markets, including core concepts and portfolio management.