Bohecker College in Ravenna has shown its support in helping Portage County community members empower themselves through financial education by providing resources, space and volunteers to the $.A.F.E. program.

$.A.F.E., Strategies for Attaining Financial Empowerment, is a new program of Family & Community Services, Inc. The program provides free financial education classes to residents of Portage County and strives to build self-sufficiency by providing the knowledge, tools and resources necessary to promote financial stability.

Trudy Diehl, Director of Financial Aid at Bohecker, learned of the new financial education program from a flier at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Kent.

Diehl decided Bohecker would be a great avenue to promote the financial education classes. Partnering with the $.A.F.E. program aligns with Bohecker's desire to help the community it serves, she explained.

"I see my students struggling with so many things, financial issues being one of them. Financial literacy can only help them. I wanted to make them aware of this opportunity," said Diehl.

Bohecker offered the use of the college's facilities to hold the classes, donated money to the program to purchase calculators for its budgeting class, and even found two professors who wanted to teach the classes.

Laura Way and Dawn Lavensky, both Bohecker professors, have been dedicated volunteers with $.A.F.E. They completed the financial education training and volunteer approximately eight hours each month teaching classes to the general public.

"People are very engaged and really want to be there. It's obvious they are getting something out of it; they ask good questions and appreciate the information we're giving them," stated Lavensky on her experience volunteering with $.A.F.E. thus far.

March classes will be held in Rootstown, Kent, Hiram, and Ravenna, and locations will vary throughout Portage County as the year progresses.

Hiram Christian Church will host classes Saturdays, Feb. 27, March 6, 13 from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. at 6868 Wakefield Rd., Hiram. Rootstown High School will host classes Mondays, March 8, 15, 22 from 6-8 p.m. at 4190 St. Rt. 44, Rootstown. Bohecker College will host classes Saturdays, March 13, 20, 27 from 1-3 p.m. at 653 Enterprise Parkway, Ravenna. Trinity Lutheran Church will host classes March 22, 23, 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 600 S. Water St., Kent.

All classes are free to the public. Call (330) 297.7027 ext. 351 or visit EmpowerPortage.com/SAFE to register.

The $.A.F.E. curriculum was assembled by F&CS VISTA members. Key information was provided by Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting and finance fraternity at Kent State University, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of F&CS, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

$.A.F.E. is comprised of three classes, Basic Budgets, Credit 101, and Credit Report Education.

Basic Budgets demonstrates how important it is to create and maintain a family spending plan, and set realistic financial goals. Credit 101 covers the many terms associated with using credit, the new consumer protection laws, and how to guard against predatory lending practices. Credit Report Education informs participants how to access and understand a free credit report, ways to build and repair a credit report and score, and offers advice on avoiding identity theft.

F&CS is one of the largest nonprofit, social service agencies in Northeast Ohio, serving local families since 1941. It provides programs and supportive services to individuals and families in emergency situations and works directly with clients to develop long-term independence and self-reliance.

For more information regarding the $.A.F.E. program, please contact Raven DeVoll at (330) 297.7027 ext. 351 or visit EmpowerPortage.com/SAFE.