Youth Financial Empowerment Participants Ring NASDAQ Closing Bell

Youth participate in ceremony as guests of Mentoring USA

It was applause all around as participants of the Youth Financial Empowerment (YFE), along with their mentors and officials from New Yorkers for Children (NYFC), Citibank, United Way of New York City, Wells Fargo and the Junior League of America joined Matilda Cuomo, Founder and Chairperson of Mentoring USA for the NASDAQ closing bell ceremony on Friday, January 23 in the middle of Times Square, New York City.

YFE youths join with mentors from Mentoring USA and partners in the program including Citibank, Wells Fargo and United Way of New York City at the NASDAQ closing bell ceremony. View More Photos

The event was part of celebrations in observation of January as National Mentoring Month.  In her remarks before the closing bell, Cuomo thanked NASDAQ for its continued support of mentoring. "Thanks to everyone here today, as together we help to reinforce the pillars of support for our young people; the home, the school and the community," said Cuomo. The wife of the former Governor of the State was presented with the NASDAQ Closing Bell Blue Crystal Award for her work in promoting mentorship.

"We are proud that Mentoring USA has invited our young people to be here today," said Dominique Jones, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Youth Development at NYC Children's Services.   "Coming to NASDAQ and learning even more about how our financial system works will only help them to become more successful as they complete the YFE program and prepare for their future."

"Having a chance to ring the bell at NASDAQ is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm really excited to be right where the money is," said Francis "Juice" Odunsi, a YFE youth participant who is saving to start a career as a music industry executive. 

The other YFE Youth attending the ceremony were Cory Steward, who is well on his way to achieving his savings goal; Andreas Nikoloutsopoulos, who is headed for college and was accompanied by his YFE mentor Marlon Williams, Director of Income Policy at United Way of New York City; Angilique Hodge, who plans to go into photography; Milton Fernandez and Kenya Clarke with her YFE mentor, Starr People of the Junior League.

The Youth Financial Empowerment program is part of the Mayor's overall plan to find innovative strategies to reduce poverty in the city through the work of the Center for Economic Opportunity. The program teaches basic skills of money management and saving, helping youth leaving foster care in their transition to independent living. Participants, ages 16-21, save up to $1,000 and receive matching funds of up to $2,000 for Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).