OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is again working with the Washington Jump Coalition and Washington Asset Building Coalitions to promote Washington Saves Week as part of the national America Saves Week campaign.
Organizations throughout our state are coordinating Saves Week activities aimed at changing behavior among individuals and families.
Understanding that having an emergency savings, retirement funds and being able to manage one’s debt are crucial to Washington residents’ personal financial security, Governor Chris Gregoire has proclaimed Feb. 20-27, 2011 Washington Saves Week.
"Too many families are just one unexpected car repair away from financial trouble,” Gregoire said. “I encourage all Washingtonians to participate in this program, and learn how to prepare for emergencies, or retirement. Financially stable families are key to our economic recovery."
Washington State Treasurer James L. McIntire agrees. His office clearly understands the importance of financial preparedness and fiscal responsibility.
"It is my job as State Treasurer to be fiscally responsible with state dollars so that we can make sound investments for the future and not incur more debt than we can afford,” McIntire said. "The same is true for families across Washington. We need to save today for investments we want to make in the future - whether it is for college education, buying a new home or retirement. That is why our office works with organizations such as DFI and Jump to provide financial education and resources to Washington families so we can ‘Build Wealth, Not Debt’."
DFI is honored to be among the many organizations committed to helping Washington residents in their efforts to attain their goals of financial freedom.
"Part of carrying out DFI’s mission — ‘Regulating financial services to protect and educate the public and promote economic vitality’ — includes helping consumers get the information and financial education they need to make sound financial decisions," DFI Director Scott Jarvis said. "Encouraging participation in Saves Week is an important component of that financial education."
We invite all Washington residents to participate in Saves Week, Feb. 20-27, 2011 by visiting www.americasaves.org and enrolling to be an American Saver.
If your organization wants to support Washington Saves and promote the campaign, the Saves Week organizers offer a variety of promotional materials at www.americasavesweek.org.
A few ways your organization can get involved include:
- Distribute America Saves fliers and brochures and display America Saves posters
- Set up display/area for reading/research and Web access to saving, debt reduction and wealth building
- Host motivational workshops and topic seminars for patrons and employees
- Encourage enrollment as a Saver
- Place America Saves Week article(s) in employees newsletter and patron news
- Enclose an America Saves flier as a payroll stuffer
- Place a link to America Saves/Washington Saves on Web site and internal network
To learn more about the campaign and register, visit the national Web site www.americasavesweek.org.
Together we can show our support and commitment to helping our community members "Start Small, Think Big" and "Build Wealth, Not Debt."