Greater Indiana FPA Chapter Pro Bono Activities

1. FPA of Greater Indiana Working with the FPA National Office.
2. Academy of Finance Partnership
3. Indiana Secretary of State Partnership
4. Inquisitive Kids Partnership
5. Money $mart Week - October 2006, 2007 and 2008 Partnership
6. Networks Financial Partnership
7. Indiana Financial Literacy Coalition Financial Fitness Day Partnership

1. FPA of Greater Indiana Working with the FPA National Office.
The FPA of Greater Indiana Pro Bono Chair was a key note speaker for the National Pro Bono Quarterly Conference Call on February 13th, 2009. Ken Williams shared tax updates for chapter chairs providing pro bono tax preparation, financial education and asset building.

After the FPA’s November 2008 Pro Bono Conference in Denver at which Ken presented and shared copies of the VISA/NFL Financial Football from the Indiana Secretary of State with all chapter pro bono chairs, Jim Peniston of the Foundation for Financial Planning expressed an interest in having copies available for foundation grantees who are working with youth and promoting them through their e-newsletter. Ken orchestrated a meeting via the Secretary of State of VISA and the Foundation.

At the 2008 FPA Boston, Ken Williams received the FPA Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award. The National Press Release noted "The awards recognize those who engage in extraordinary work to contribute to the financial planning community and/or to the public through financial planning. Ken Williams serves as director of Pro Bono for FPA of Greater Indiana and as the Indiana Stakeholder Partnership Education and Communication (SPEC) Territory Manager for the IRS. Williams and his staff support service approximately 2,000 volunteers who prepare 85,000 free low income, elderly, disabled and Limited English Proficiency individual tax returns. He participates in Community Tax Education and Earned Income Tax Credit Outreaches and helps promote financial literacy and asset building via multiple partner relationships built throughout the State of Indiana."

On June 15th and 16th, 2007 Ken met with 55 other financial planners in New Orleans for the second annual Pro Bono Director’s Forum. Attendees from 43 FPA Chapters across the country met to discuss how to expand pro bono efforts in their communities. Ken was on a panel moderated by the National Pro Bono Chair to share with other financial planners asset building opportunities via Earned Income Tax Credit Coalitions. The presentation included a step by step approach to utilizing the coalition summaries on the Center for Budget and Policy website along with territory manager contacts and a testimonial by a financial planner who participated in the pilot of the program this year.

On September 27th, 2006 Ken Williams orchestrated a meeting with Ron Smith and Mike McBride of IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communications (SPEC) National Headquarters and the National Director of the Washington DC office of the Financial Planning Association and the National FPA Pro Bono Director. Discussions centered on how SPEC could partner with the FPA Nationally to help with over 300 Asset Building Coalition activities and with the National Military Quality of Life initiatives. Ken also shared Greater Indiana FPA Best Practices with the National FPA Director and Pro Bono Chair.

2. Academy of Finance Partnership
On March 11th, 2009 the Regional Academy of Finance (AOF) Board , of which Ken Williams, the Greater Indiana Financial Planner Association Pro Bono Director is a member, conducted their annual Academy of Finance Student Conference for over 300 students from 12 schools throughout Indiana at the University of Indianapolis. Financial Planners, CPAs Bankers and educators assisted in student activities including Accounting Monopoly, a Cash Flow game, campus tours and a Brain Game Competition where panels from various schools answered business and tax questions in a Jeopardy type environment.

After a key note motivational speaker, the FPA of Greater Indiana awarded a $1,500 Scholarship to Avery Brown from Greenfield Indiana. In addition to the Academy of Finance courses, Avery's transcript notes multiple Honors classes with a Grade Point Average of 3.984 out of 4.0. Avery is involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities including: the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, National Honors Society, Varsity Women's Golf, Park Chapel Youth Group, Park Chapel Leadership Team, School Choir and School Mascot. Avery has received multiple awards including: Woman's Golf MVP, Spanish, Banking and Credit Student of the Year, All State Academic Team Women's Golf, and High School Heisman Nominee to name a few. We are excited

At the March 12, 2008 AOF Conference the Greater Indiana FPA Chapter presented a scholarship of $1,500 to Brandi Schmitt of Greenfield, Indiana. In addition to high academic achievements, Brandi was Vice President of the National Honor Society, President of the Family Career Community Leaders of America, Mentor for Project Arrow, Volunteer Head Soccer Coach, State Participant in the Business Professionals of America and House Representative at Girls State. Brandi currently holds three jobs in addition to her AOF Internship with Kemper CPA group. In her Academy of Finance Director’s letter of recommendation, she noted Brandi’s extensive accomplishments, her interest in the field of financial planning and that she will be solely responsible for financing her college degree.

At the 2003 Student Conference a CFP Board Scholarship was presented by a representative from Denver in the name of Elaine Bedel, an internationally known local Financial Planner.

3. Indiana Secretary of State Partnership
The Indiana Secretary of State, a long time financial education and asset building pro bono partner, is working with the director of marketing at Circle Centre Mall to conduct a series of financial literacy events in the Arts Garden. The events will be at noon and will last about 30 minutes once a month starting in April and ending in October 2009 (Money Smart Week). The Secretary of State's office will cover various aspects of investment fraud. President Elect Jack Perry has agreed to be the speaker on October 13th about Financial Planning.

In 2007 the Greater Indiana Financial Planners Association Chapter Members participated in the Indiana Secretary of State’s Investor Education Workshop at the Junior Achievement Facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over 160 people registered for this event which included an introduction by the Secretary of State, a proclamation by the governor, a presentation by a victim on Lessons Learned from a Victim of Investment Fraud and speakers on Financial Fraud - Common Scams and How to Avoid Them, Savings and Money Management, Using and Managing Credit, Investing Basics - Understanding the world of Investing and the Concept of Risk, Junior Achievement and Financial Literacy, Mortgage Awareness and Financial Football.

The Secretary of State highlighted his web site including information on Investor Basic Training and a teacher resource page including the Financial Football Mobile Edition for online play and to be downloaded to play on a cell phone. The Financial Football product, which was sponsored by VISA and the NFL, was demonstrated in a break out session. Contestants pick teams and complete to score by answering financial literacy questions. A CD of the Financial Football game was sent to all schools in the State of Indiana. In addition to the Investment Watch and Financial Football CD, the Secretary of State has some outstanding brochures on Risky Ventures, Promissory Notes, Affinity Fraud, Investor Bill of Rights, Money Skills for Newlywed Couples, Senior Investors Bulletin, Fraud Aimed at Older Americans and Understanding Mutual Funds.

The Secretary of State also funded an interactive display at the Junior Achievement identifying major areas of financial fraud and various buttons to push for additional recorded information. Over 15,000 kids go through Exchange City and Finance Park annually.

As the pro bono chairman of the Indiana Financial Planners Association, Ken helped staff a booth distributing CPA and CFP brochures and answering tax law questions. Board Members and the Past President of the Greater Indiana FPA also helped staff the booth. Two CFPs were speakers. The Secretary of State became a partner after the prior year’s Indiana Financial Literacy Council Financial Fitness Fair. With the Secretary of State’s commitment to visit all 92 counties this year, our partnership helps both him and the CPA Society, the Financial Planners, the IRS, the Indiana Bankers Association, Junior Achievement, Purdue Extension and the other partners of the Financial Literacy Council reach all of Indiana versus just the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area.

The national release of the collegiate version of Financial Football in partnership with the NFL and VISA was launched at a Secretary of State Workshop on October 20th 2007.

4. Inquisitive Kids Partnership
The FPA of Greater Indiana was the exclusive Title Sponsor of the March 2009 Issue of the Inquisitive Kids Publication. This issue, which focuses entirely on financial literacy, allowed us to reach 53,000 Grade 3, 4 and 5 students in public, private, parochial, charter and magnet schools and 2,300 teachers. Inquisitive Kids provides an innovative, fun way to enhance student academic achievement and civic involvement through its monthly publication and its liaisons with community organizations, educators and funders. This free publication, which is aligned with the Indiana Academic Standards, is endorsed by The Indiana Department of Education, The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents and the Indiana Association of School Principals.

5. Money $mart Week - October 2006, 2007 and 2008 Partnership
The week of October 15th, 2006 was declared as the first official Money Smart Week in Indiana per proclamations by the Mayor of Indianapolis and the Governor. Ken Williams, Greater Indiana FPA Pro Bono Chair, participated in the kick off breakfast sponsored by the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. FPA partners participating in the event included the Mayor of Indianapolis, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Treasurer and Inquisitive Kids. The winner of the Inquisitive Kids Poster Contest was presented a certificate, a savings bond and a Junior Achievement pass for her school. Money Smart Week activities included over 275 free educational activities throughout the state to inform consumers about managing their personal finances. As part of Money Smart Week, Ken is also participating in a Financial Fitness Fair in partnership with the Mayors of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago. The toolkit developed by the Indiana Financial Literacy Coalition, of which the Greater Indiana FPA is a member, was used for this event. The toolkit allows us to leverage our efforts in our financial literacy outreach endeavors. Todd Rokita, the Secretary of State, was the keynote speaker.

Money Smart Week activities were expanded in 2007 and 2008. The national release of the collegiate version of Financial Football in partnership with the NFL and VISA was launched at a Secretary of State Workshop on October 20th 2007.

6. Networks Financial Partnership
Ken Williams, Greater Indiana Financial Planner Chapter Pro Bono Director, participated in financial literacy events with Networks Financial Institute, an Indiana State University program which received a huge grant from Elli Lilly. The K-5 Teachers conference included the launch of the Money Bus financial literacy mobile classroom. Presentations were also made by Money Savvy Generations, Indiana Humanities Council and Inquisitive Kids. The keynote speaker was Sonia Manzano, who is Maria on Sesame Street. Financial planning and tax advice was also provided by Ken, Liz Hoover and Mike Fields, both prior Chapter Presidents, during a Networks financial literacy event with Michelle Singletary as the keynote speaker. Her "Color of Money" column appears in more than 120 US newspapers. She also writes for the Washington Post and appears on NPR, MSNBC, CNBC, Nightline, the Oprah Winfrey Show and The View.

7. Indiana Financial Literacy Coalition Financial Fitness Day Partnership
In 2006 a "Financial Fitness Day" in Indiana, was proclaimed by Governor Mitch Daniels. The proclamation was issued in support of a Financial Fitness Fair held at the Junior Achievement facility in Indianapolis. The Fair serves as a model for statewide events in 2006, coordinated by the Indiana Financial Literacy Coalition (IFLC). The IFLC is a consortium of 14 statewide organizations committed to advancing financial literacy of which the Greater Indiana Financial Planning Chapter is a member.

The Financial Fitness Fair brought financial literacy basics to children and adults from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, Coburn Place Safe Haven, Julian Center, Sheltering Wings Center for Women and targeted downtown Indianapolis schools and churches. Financial information was presented in a lively, interactive environment to help educate consumers about the basics of managing money wisely.

Break out groups were led by bankers, accountants, financial planners, sports celebrities, Academy of Finance and college student volunteers, educators, Low Income Tax Clinic personnel and Indianapolis Asset Building Coalition representative presenters to name a few. Topics for interested adult and youth participants included information on "Why Should People Save?", "Setting Your Financial Records Straight", "Landlord/Tenant Issues", "How the New Bankruptcy Code Affects You", "Financial Aid/Saving for Advanced Education" and "Family Fun on a Budget." In addition to the above topics, Financial Fitness Fair partners provided free credit reports to attendees as well as free credit/financial counseling. The Internal Revenue Service was available all day for individual questions and group presentations. On-line computer access was available throughout the facility to allow presenters access to organizational/community websites. Cashflow for Kids, Accounting Monopoly and a Budget Day Computer Simulation were held in Junior Achievement Finance Park and Junior Achievement Exchange City.

In addition to being the keynote speaker, Secretary of State Todd Rokita and his staff provided valuable information for fair sponsors and participants. The Greater Indiana Financial Planning Chapter has become a key partner with the Secretary of State in his statewide outreach efforts.

Mike Fields, former Greater Indiana Financial Planning Chapter President, and Ken Williams, Pro Bono Chair answered questions and interacted with participants utilizing the very professional booth display and materials on loan from the FPA.