News Briefs

WFD Receives State Grant for Fire Education Programs

Chief Scott Wiley is pleased to announce that the Winthrop Fire Department (WFD) was awarded a grant to support its fire education programming in the community.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services awarded Winthrop Fire $4,381 for its Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program and $2,277 for the Senior S.A.F.E. Program.

The funding gives the department the opportunity to work directly with students in schools and seniors to educate them about fire safety and prevention. Each program is tailored to the common needs of each age group and includes general fire prevention reminders and safe practices in the home. Lessons feature many safety topics including steps to take if a fire alarm goes off.

The lessons taught in the school-based program are in line with the standards of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Health Curriculum Frameworks and the state Department of Fire Services Curriculum Planning Guidebook.

Twenty-seven years after the introduction of the S.A.F.E program within schools, the rate of annual child fire deaths has decreased by 78%, according to the state’s Department of Fire Services, which administers the two programs.

Agencies Announce New Round of High School Financial Education Fair Funding

The State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE), in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), announced additional funding for the 2022-2023 Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant. This grant opportunity provides financial assistance for Massachusetts high schools hosting financial education fairs during the 2022-2023 school year.

Known as Credit for Life fairs, these workshops offer fun and unique experiences for students to learn about personal finance topics before they graduate. Massachusetts public or charter high schools and special education programs approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are eligible to apply.

Schools that were already awarded a grant for the 2022-2023 school year are not eligible to receive additional funding.

Applications are open until Friday, February 17th. Schools can learn more and apply here.

This marks the 11th round of the grant since its inception in 2015 and the second round for the 2022-2023 school year. In December, the agencies awarded a total of $115,400 to 39 schools to create new or expand pre-existing financial education fairs, which will serve around 9,000 students according to the grantees’ estimates.

Since 2015, over 40,000 Massachusetts students have attended Credit for Life Fairs. The Financial Education Innovation Fund Grant was established as an ongoing effort to strengthen access to financial literacy throughout Massachusetts. This financial education program is funded by the Division of Banks through a settlement over alleged unlawful lending practices.