As we reflect on the Spring 2024 semester and look forward to the Fall, it is hard to think that FGI is just 5 years old. Each month, we continue to grow and improve the program and remain focused on one thing: providing high-quality financial literacy and investment education to high school students across the country. In the Spring semester alone, we taught a record number of 774 students, and thus invested over $270,000 on behalf of our students.
Summer Engagement
Outside of the core FGI programming, we remained active throughout the summer to continue giving our students additional learning opportunities. These included:
ETF Pitch Competition…where students built on their knowledge from FGI to pitch ETFs and compete for additional money to be added to their portfoliosCareer Day at Morgan Stanley’s NYC Headquarters…for FGI students to hear from Morgan Stanley investment professionals and tour their offices.
Fall Outlook
This Fall, we are welcoming 36 high schools from locations across the country, including: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Durham, NC; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO; Tallahassee, FL; and Washington, D.C. We plan to enroll nearly 800 students this Fall.
To support the students and fund their investment accounts, we are launching our Back to School Drive to fund investment accounts for all students who complete the program. FGI program graduates receive $100 to invest in a selected set of mutual funds.Thanks to our amazing supporters, FGI funded new accounts for over 1,700 program graduates last school year. Your participation in this year's Drive will offer students the chance to apply their new knowledge and start their journey in investing.
Program Highlights
Pierre (student) - a recent high school graduate who will be attending Boston University in 2025. Originally from Harlem, NY, he participated in Columbia’s Double Discovery Center cohort, where he was an active FGI participant who took an interest in investing and financial literacy.Joy (student) - a rising Sophomore at Drexel University studying Finance and Economics. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, she participated in FGI during her time as a student at Central High School.Joel (student) - a Senior in high school from Washington D.C. who recently participated in FGI. We sat down with Joel to learn more about his story and experience with the program in this interview.Mamekhady (student) - a Junior in high school from Harlem, New York City who recently participated in FGI. We sat down with Mamekhady to learn more about her story and her experience with the program in this interview.Andre Myrie (tutor) - LinkedIn post highlighting his work at Queens University of Charlotte.Matt Dewees (ambassador) - LinkedIn post highlight his contributions in establishing Valley Forge Financial Group as an FGI supporter, including choosing FGI as the beneficiary of their annual 4.01(k) race.
Ambassador Highlights
Since our last newsletter, our Ambassador Program, a growing network of young professionals passionate about FGI, has grown to over 45 participants and has hosted two events that had outstanding attendance. The first was hosted at FGI Board Member Paul Germain’s office at 1 Vanderbilt, and the second was hosted at the Historic Yale Club in NYC.
Thank You to our New Supporters
We have been fortunate to receive support from Franklin Templeton, GEM, the Hobson Lucas Family Foundation, JPMorganChase, Neuberger Berman, Northern Trust (championed by FGI Ambassador Sam Arrix), Orion Innovation (championed by FGI Ambassador Chiraag Patil), Samlyn, Segall Bryant & Hamill, Tulane University, and Valley Forge Financial Group (championed by FGI Ambassador Matt).
