A New Twist on Holiday Giving

This year as you're planning your Holiday giving, you or your office can take the opportunity to make a lasting gift to a local family.

Polk families have been attending financial education classes this Fall and working hard to build a $300 emergency savings account. Once they have finished these classes, they will graduate to the Next Steps Program where they will save $25 a month for up to four years. Every dollar of their budget discipline will earn them an additional dollar, held for them until they reach $2,000. They can then use the money to help them buy an asset of a modest home, education to increase family income, or start a small business.

For $500, your office or business can adopt a family and help them build their savings to $1,000 during the year. We'll share the family's story (anonymously) with you this Holiday season, and to keep you informed of their progress, we'll share reports on April 15th, July 4th and Thanksgiving.You'll know all year round that your Christmas gift is building a future for your Next Steps family and for your community.

Next Steps is a project of the Financial Stability Partnership of United Way and administered by Explorations V Children's Museum. Families can be sponsored from any Polk or Hardee Community and are coached to success through financial social workers at United Way family service providers. Contact Scott Lonsberry for more information: scott.lonsberry@uwcf.org