Citizen Tribune via Contributed Reports. “Jefferson Educational and Community Foundation receives donation from First Horizon.” Citizen Tribune, May 14, 2023, citizentribune.com. Photo by Wade Littleton.
In May 1999, Daryl Brady, former president and CEO of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, founded the Jefferson County Educational and Community Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The purpose of the foundation is to enhance the educational opportunities offered to children in the Jefferson County School System through solicitation of funds, expertise and greater involvement from parents, businesses and the community at large.
The $5,000 grant from the First Horizon Foundation will provide financial literacy to middle and high school students in the Jefferson County School System pertaining to personal finances like banking, writing checks, balancing a checkbook, debit and credit cards, student loans, investing, mortgages, retirement and more.
Students will participate in a real-life situation where they are assigned a job, salary, family unit and so on. The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will recruit business leaders inside the membership to serve as volunteers in the simulations posing as car dealers, landlords, real estate agents, bankers, utility, insurance companies and more. The students will gain considerable knowledge and understanding with a knowledge base when it comes to personal finances.
“We are so excited and grateful to have received this $5,000 grant from First Horizon Foundation. We want this to be a fun and educational experience where students gain valuable knowledge as they prepare to venture into the real world managing their own finances,” Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Michael Cole said.
The Community Foundation is set up for individual donors to establish legacy gifts and endowments to provide grants to support such things as scholarships, conservation efforts, greenways, nonprofit organizations and even dog parks, or whatever the donor proposes their fund to support. The Foundation is open for businesses, and/or companies to invest seed money to support local community development efforts, such as parks, playgrounds and other things.
Those with questions may contact Cole at 865-397-9642 or by email at mcole@jeffersoncountytennessee.com.
First Horizon Foundation is the private charitable foundation of First Horizon Corporation. Founded in 1993, the foundation has donated more than $110 million to meet community needs. Grants from the foundation support the following impact areas: Arts and Culture; Education and Leadership; Environment; Financial Literacy; and Health and Human Services. More information is available at www.firsthorizonfoundation.com.
