General

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 11, 2025 New York, NY – Working in Support of Education (W!se) is pleased to announce that it has received a generous grant from Deutsche Bank to enhance the use of artificial intelligence in our financial literacy programs. W!se’s Financial Literacy Certification program equips students and teachers with essential knowledge in personal finance, ensuring that young people graduate high school financially literate. Deutsche Bank’s continued investment in our AI tool kit will help W!se deliver the program more efficiently and effectively. “Deutsche Bank is a longstanding and cherished partner that truly values innovation in education,” said David Anderson, President and CEO, W!se. “This new and very generous grant will help us stay at the forefront in financial education by integrating artificial intelligence to strengthen our testing infrastructure for both students and teachers. A portion of the grant will support continued development of test questions through W!se’s dedicated AI platform. This AI platform allows us to remain at the cutting edge of assessment development for both students and educators. The remaining funds will support the adoption of an AI-powered remote proctoring system integrated with W!se’s online testing service. This will allow teachers to take the Certification in Personal Finance Test from the comfort of their homes while ensuring test integrity through advanced AI monitoring. “Financial education is critical to creating stable, secure financial futures,” said Alessandra DiGiusto, Executive Director of Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation. “We are thrilled to support W!se in their mission to provide essential financial literacy to students, and we believe that integrating artificial intelligence will enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of their programs.” About Working in Support of Education (W!se) Working in Support of Education (W!se) is a leading educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New York City with a mission to improve economic mobility through programs that develop financial literacy and readiness for college and careers. Our initiatives are built on 5 pillars –relevancy, real-world experiences, partnerships, volunteerism and evaluation. The post Working in Support of Education Receives Generous Grant from Deutsche Bank first appeared on W!se. The post Working in Support of Education Receives Generous Grant from Deutsche Bank appeared first on W!se.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  – June 20, 2025 NEW YORK, N.Y. – Working in Support of Education (W!se) hosted its 30th Annual Quality of Life INNOVATIONS (QLI) Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 12 at the LGBT Center in New York City. At the conclusion of a rigorous competition, the event celebrated the outstanding achievements of high school students from all five boroughs who developed innovative, research-based solutions to pressing quality of life issues in their communities. Eight finalist teams presented their projects before a panel of esteemed judges during the competition’s Final Round. This year’s milestone Ceremony featured moving student presentations, recognition of mentors and educators, and a keynote address by the first ever QLI Scholarship Winner who shared how the program shaped his academic and career path. This year’s scholarship winners are: First Place was awarded to Salahaldeen Ibrahim (Staten Island Technical High School) for developing “Peace of Mind,” a low-cost, machine learning tool that models the risk of developing five dementia subtypes using routine medical data. His model achieved between 85% and 92% accuracy when tested on national medical datasets and was piloted in a Mount Sinai lab. Overall, the tool was designed to improve early diagnosis in marginalized communities and reduce caregiver burden. Second Place went to Tamana Saini, Zoe Sharapov, and Jenny Ye (Forest Hills High School) who created an engaging, multilingual emergency preparedness lesson for NYC 4th and 5th graders. In partnership with EMTs, firefighters, and teachers, the team taught 656 students life-saving skills such as calling 911 and responding to medical emergencies. Post-lesson assessments showed a dramatic increase in students’ confidence and readiness—92.6% felt better prepared. Third Place was awarded to Angel Mizhquiri, Anisa Akobirova, and Emily Padilla (Forest Hills High School) for launching S.H.E.L.L., a peer tutoring program addressing the academic and social challenges of English Language Learner (ELL) students. With bilingual volunteers providing tutoring during and after school, 100% of participants improved academically, and 80% reported increased classroom confidence. The program was praised by educators and city officials and won first place at the MyImpact Civics Fair. Additional awards included: Gold Ribbon Issue Brief Awards Annarose Grizzle (Brooklyn Technical High School): “Biomimicry in Well Alternatives Implemented in Forest Fire Regions” Elizabeth Vovkanych (James Madison High School): “Effects of Social Media on the Attention Span of Teenagers” Creative Idea Award Alina Liu, Michael Manganel, and Ashley Li (Staten Island Technical High School): “Prevent the Growth, Prevent the Spread: An Accessible Solution to Combat Wood Rot” Writing Award Ivonne Cruz, Flordalia Gonzalez, and Scarlet Hurtado (Forest Hills High School): “Reading for Recovery: Making Bibliotherapy Available for Psychiatric Patients” “These extraordinary students are not only using their creativity and passion to identify problems—they’re designing real-world solutions. These have the potential to make a significant impact in their communities and the world at large,” said David Anderson, President and CEO, W!se. “The 30th anniversary of QLI is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when young people are given the tools, support, and opportunity to lead.” To view more photos, click here. About the Quality of Life INNOVATIONS Program (QLI) QLI invites high school students to become civically engaged and social entrepreneurs by using applied research to solve real-world problems. Students conduct extensive background and field research on a quality of life issue that they choose, and work with key stakeholders to develop feasible solutions. Participants have the opportunity to submit their research proposals to the QLI competition for the chance to win college scholarships.  The program is made possible by the generous support of PWC, the Herb Block Foundation, and The New York Community Trust. About Working in Support of Education (W!se) Working in Support of Education (W!se) is a leading New York City-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving economic mobility through programs that foster financial literacy and readiness for college and careers. W!se’s initiatives are grounded in five pillars: relevancy, real-world experiences, partnerships, volunteerism, and evaluation. Media Contact: Samantha Spina Sspina(at)wise-ny.org The post New York City Students Honored at 30th Annual Quality of Life INNOVATIONS (QLI) Awards Ceremony first appeared on W!se. The post New York City Students Honored at 30th Annual Quality of Life INNOVATIONS (QLI) Awards Ceremony appeared first on W!se.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 4, 2025 New York, NY — Working in Support of Education (W!se) is pleased to announce that its second annual 5K Fun Run, will take place on June 5 at Pier 46 in Hudson River Park, New York City. Following the enthusiastic response to last year’s inaugural event, this year’s Run promises to be even bigger and better, bringing together supporters from across the City for an evening of friendly competition, wellness, and fun. The 5K is open to runners and walkers of all skill levels. Proceeds will directly benefit W!se’s award-winning programs that promote financial literacy and college and career readiness among students and at-risk adults nationwide. “We’re excited to hold the run again,” said David Anderson, President and CEO, W!se. “Last year’s 5K was a tremendous success, and we look forward to another evening with our wonderful sponsors, donors, volunteers and their friends, all of whom are so vital to our success.” This year’s event is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: Premier Sponsor: National Organization of Investment Professionals Finish Line Sponsor: Fortitude RE Award Sponsor: Mercer Advisors Afterparty Sponsor: Cerity Partners Refreshment Sponsors: Galaxy Digital Additional Sponsors: Lisa E. Solomon and Deck Remodelers Participants will enjoy scenic views along the Hudson, music, refreshments, awards for top finishers, and an afterparty. Registration is now open at https://bit.ly/wisefunrun. About Working in Support of Education (W!se) Working in Support of Education (W!se) is a leading educational nonprofit based in New York City with a mission to improve the lives of young people and at-risk adults through programs that develop financial literacy and readiness for college and the workforce. For more information, visit wise-ny.org. Follow W!se on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @wisenewyork. Media Contact: Samantha Spina sspina(at)wise-ny.org The post Working in Support of Education to Host Second Annual 5K Fun Run first appeared on W!se. The post Working in Support of Education to Host Second Annual 5K Fun Run appeared first on W!se.

For Immediate Release – May 16, 2025 New York, NY — Working in Support of Education (W!se) is excited to announce the winners of its 2025 Financial Literacy Video Contest, a creative initiative designed to promote financial literacy among high school students. Generously sponsored by Bread Financial®, the contest was expanded from New York City to students throughout New York State. After several rounds of rigorous judging, five videos stood out for their quality and creativity. They also excelled in delivering a compelling message about sound money management. The five winners are: First Place: Thai Merritt, HS of Art and Design, NYC; Teacher: Hanan Harchol Second Place: Shifa Rabaja, Thomas Edison CTE HS, NYC, Teacher: Sandra Cruz Third Place: Jillian Klemann, Fredonia Central, Chautauqua County, Teacher: Daniel Darrell-Sterbak Fourth Place: Milo Rhames, HS of Art and Design, NYC Teacher: Michael Bridenstine Fifth Place: William Baran, HS of Art and Design, NYC, Teacher: Hanan Harchol Each of these students and teachers will receive cash prizes. Three other videos received honorable mention: • Matthew Olivier from Shenendehowa High School, Teacher: Melinda Mellon • Jason Ye from High School of Economics and Finance, Teacher: Hiro Shinohara • Isabelle Bar-Lev from High School of Art and Design, Teacher Michael Bridenstine “We are thrilled with the continued success of our Financial Literacy Video Contest,” said David Anderson, President and CEO, W!se. “The quality and creativity of this year’s submissions were truly outstanding. With more students participating and new award categories, we’re proud that high school students are helping to spread essential financial knowledge with their peers. We are deeply grateful to Bread Financial for their ongoing support and partnership.” New award categories were introduced this year to recognize effort and broader range of talent: Principal Award: Moses A. Ojeda from Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Education High School Best Storyteller Award: Thai Merritt from High School of Art and Design, Teacher: Hanan Harchol Students were invited to create short videos on personal finance topics. This year’s prompts included: making three financial promises to their future selves and how they would keep them; creating a lesson (as if they were a personal finance teacher) on budgeting, credit, needs vs. wants, or investing; and explaining the benefits and risks of saving and investing as tools for reaching financial goals. “At Bread Financial, we embrace the unique opportunity we have to promote and support the financial wellness of our customers, associates and communities by empowering them to build financial confidence,” stated Dana Beckman, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Bread Financial. “It is with great pride that we support W!se and this competition for the second year. We were thoroughly impressed with the submissions, which showcase how an important topic like financial literacy can be both education and enjoyable. The work W!se is doing helps create a strong foundation for these students that will last for years to come.” To view the winning videos, click here. About Working in Support of Education (W!se) Working in Support of Education (W!se) is a leading educational nonprofit based in New York City with a mission to improve the lives of young people and at-risk adults through programs that develop financial literacy and readiness for college and the workforce. For more information, visit wise-ny.org. Follow W!se on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @wisenewyork. About Bread Financial® Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions, including Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and savings products, empower our customers and their passions for a better life. Additionally, we deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, jewelry and specialty apparel through our private label and co-brand credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers. To learn more about Bread Financial, our global associates and our sustainability commitments, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. The post W!se Announces Winners of Annual Video Contest Promoting Financial Literacy first appeared on W!se. The post W!se Announces Winners of Annual Video Contest Promoting Financial Literacy appeared first on W!se.