On Thursday
August 11th, 2005 at Cincinnati Music Hall, SmartMoney
Community Services honored and celebrated the
successes of five individuals for the following
awards: |
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SmartPath
Award
Roxanne & Delando Little
Young
adult program graduate of the year
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Fear was a major part of the Littles
lifestyle before they came to SmartMoney. They
feared not having enough money for the bills,
so clothing and food became secondary to them.
With the help
of a flyer, they found the help and support
that SmartMoney had to offer. They participated
in both the SmartChange and SmartHome programs.
There they learned how to budget, finance, and
save.
Now they have goals of continuing their education
about saving and managing money so that they
can soon purchase a home. Ultimately, they want
to own a home and have a family business; with
the help of several of SmartMoneys classes
they know that this is an attainable goal. Roxanne
believes SmartMoney is a blessing from
beginning to end. They have not reached
that end yet, however. With workshops, counseling
sessions and dreams still to come, Roxanne and
Delando have a long way to go. Whats important
is they know where they are going and exactly
how to get there. They truly are on the path
to a much brighter future. |
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SmartSuccess
Award
Nicole Burns
Individual
program participant and/or graduate of the
year
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A flyer is what led Nicole to SmartMoney
Community Services. She saw a flyer explaining
the benefits of the SmartStep Savings Program
and realized there was no catch to receiving
this great opportunity. She took advantage of
it, ending the program in two and a half years
with $5,000 in the bank, thanks to her 2:1 match
from Fifth Third bank. She used the money to
purchase a new home and invested in her Child
Daycare business. During her 2.5 years in the
SmartSteps program she also chose to participate
in the SmartBusiness program. She applied what
she learned from that program to her daycare
and as a result her business is booming. We
are extremely proud of Nicole and all her successes.
She is a true embodiment of what the SmartSuccess
Award is all about. |
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SmartEntrepreneur
Award
Ronald Lee
Smart
Business/Build Your Own Business of the Year
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Ron became very interested in both the
SmartBusiness program and the SmartSteps Savings
program while watching a SmartMoney representative
discuss, in an interview, several programs that
were available to the community. Living paycheck
to paycheck was no long the way he wanted to
live.
In a three-year period he was enrolled in the
SmartBusiness, SmartStep Savings, and SmartChange
programs. By the time he completed the savings
program he saved $1,800, which resulted in a
$3,600 match from Fifth Third bank. He used
the $5,400 to purchase real estate he could
renovate and rent out, and to purchase new tools
for his contracting business Ronald Lee and
Associates. Ron was so excited about the program
he took many classes several times in an attempt
to ensure he had all the knowledge available
to him. Today he continues to save 10% of his
earnings and recommends the classes to everyone
he meets. |
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SmartLeadership
Award
Jennifer Jervis Tighe
Leadership
and devotion to the long-term success of SmartMoney
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Beginning in 1988, Jennifer was both
the executive director of Cooperative Fiscal
Services, the predecessor to SmartMoney, and
a teller at the newly opened Cincinnati Central
Credit Union in Over-the-Rhine. She attracted
several new members to that branch resulting
in a flourishing business, and with that came
additional tellers and a promotion to branch
manager. In 1990, she recruited a new branch
manager and became the full-time director of
the Coop. During her reign the Coop developed
its Collateral Support Fund, giving access
to capital to first-time borrowers and people
considered too high a risk for the credit union.
They also initiated a Payee Program through
which the credit union directly assisted many
low-functioning clients of Tender Mercies and
the Free Store in managing their small monthly
checks. Eventually, they even began assisting
local banks in meeting their goals. Jenny was
a leader in computerizing the Coops routine
administrative operations and developed a team
approach to the Coops work. In 1990, the
Coop shared the National Cooperative of the
Month Award with the Credit Union. It was largely
due to Jennifers public relations skills
that the partnership between the Coop and the
credit union became a nationally recognized
model for delivering community-based financial
services. She laid the foundation for SmartMoney
to become what it is today, and we are eternally
grateful for the sacrifices she made. |
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The luncheon was an exciting
celebration attended by over 100 program participants,
volunteers, supporters, and friends of SmartMoney.
The 2005 Bright Future
Awards Luncheon was presented by PNC Bank, and
sponsored by Cincinnati Central Credit Union, dinsmore
& Shohl, FACS Group, McSwain Carpets and Floors,
and the Ohio Credit Union League.
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