MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO (March 14, 2016) – Two Enactus teams have been named 2016 Capital One Financial Education Challenge Regional Champions by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud program supporter, Capital One Canada.
Teams at Ryerson University and the University of Windsor are driving positive change through the following community empowerment projects:
Enactus Ryerson helped people in Dago, Kenya and surrounding villages lift themselves out of poverty by providing 119 community members with financial education. The team taught 62 women entrepreneurs, 12 male business owners, 40 children and five community leaders varying levels of financial literacy skills in business, entrepreneurship and bookkeeping.
The Enactus team at the University of Windsor directly empowered 1,717 people through financial education where individuals are paired with students and industry professionals to learn skills like budgeting and bookkeeping. Through their CityThrive project this year, the team lifted 11 people off social assistance and saved the city $330,000.
“Through this challenge, Enactus students are empowered to drive real and tangible change within their communities by sharing their financial knowledge and skills with people in need,” said Holly Jackson, Vice President, Operations, Capital One Canada. “At Capital One, we are committed to supporting programs that help people make informed financial choices, and every year we are continually impressed with how the students are positively impacting the financial futures of the people they help.”
The Capital One Financial Education Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach relevant financial skills. Since 2006, this challenge has engaged 7,125 students across the country, resulting in the delivery of 779 financial education outreach projects and directly impacting 115,950 community participants.
Student teams demonstrated the impact of their financial education projects to panels of business executives on March 11 in Mississauga as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Central Canada. The winning Enactus teams stood out to the judges because of their dedication to empowering people in need within their community.
“Through these projects, our student teams are transforming lives by empowering people financially,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “We are incredibly proud of our student leaders and their work to empower people across Canada through financial literacy education.”
These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 2-4 at the 2016 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto, Ontario.
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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, this country’s largest student leadership development organization, is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,650 entrepreneurial post-secondary students led 288 community empowerment projects and business ventures this past year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT CAPITAL ONE: With offices in Toronto and Montreal, Capital One Canada has been offering Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard credit cards since 1996. We challenge ourselves to see the world through the eyes of our customers, so we can deliver the market leading credit products and exceptional service they’re looking for. Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF). Capital One is committed to investing in youth in our communities through program investment and the skills and dedication of our talented associates.
Media Inquiries:
Jody Lundrigan
Director of Communications
Enactus Canada
E: jody@enactus.ca
M: 416.346.0131