The United Way of Henry County and Martinsville announced “great success” of the Dollars & Sense Reality Fair, which was held at New College Institute on Thursday and Friday, October 30 and 31. This biannual event is provided to local high school seniors to allow them real world budgeting experience while prioritizing their needs versus wants, tracking their income, and making critical decisions about their future. Using fun, hands-on activities that allowed students to interact with their classmates and local community members representing many area businesses and organizations, they were able to apply these skills to pay bills, open accounts, donate to charity, and even save for special occasions.
The United Way is grateful to the area’s volunteers and UWHCM staff who made this two-day learning event possible, and expressed gratitude to Bassett High School for its attendance and participation on Thursday, as well as Martinsville and Magna Vista high schools on Friday.
The agency is looking forward to Dollars & Sense in the Middle, an outstanding program for middle schoolers, with the first event set for December 16, at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School. The event is designed to provide 7th graders with a better understanding of budgeting, understanding their wants and needs, as well as how their current financial decisions may come with future financial consequences. For more information on the Dollars & Sense program, please contact Lisa Frick at 276-403-5965, or Lisa@UnitedWayofHCM.org.
For any individual interested in financial education, regardless of age, contact Maria Amaya-Chavez at 276-403-3516, x205, or Maria@UnitedWayofHCM.org.

