$TAND BY ME SET TO INCREASE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS

Wilmington, DE - On June 5 at 10 a.m. at the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington, community leaders will launch Stand By Me Hispano, a program to increase the economic security of Hispanic immigrants and residents in the state of Delaware. Stand By Me Hispano is a new resource designed to help Hispanics in Delaware understand more about their finances and achieve their financial dreams.

Stand By Me, the state's financial empowerment program, is a coalition of community partners, led by the State of Delaware and United Way of Delaware. Through stand By Me Hispano, the program is now offering personal financial coaching and educational workshops about money in Spanish to ensure that each member of the Hispanic community has access to the information and support they need to set and achieve personal financial goals. The program offers one-on-one personal financial coaching in convenient locations in communities, at employers, and educational institutions across the state.

In addition to the coaching that helps individuals deal with personal financial challenges, the program offers workshops on topics such as budgeting and building credit. The program aims to address the unique challenges of immigrants, such as sharing living costs with other families, sending money home, navigating the financial mainstream in America, and avoiding scams and predatory financial services. Workshops will be offered in English and/or Spanish in partnership with the Delaware Department of Adult Education's ESL classes.

Stand By Me Hispano is partnering with the Delaware Hispanic Commission, the Latin American Community Center, La Esperanza, and the Department of Education's ESL programs. TD Bank provided support through its foundation to fund program operations.

About Stand By Me Since it started three years ago, Stand By Me has helped more than 12,000 Delawareans with this FREE confidential service. The program is a partnership of the State and United Way of Delaware, and it is a priority of Governor Jack Markell, who believes that it is his responsibility to help all Delaware residents to achieve financial stability. Stand By Me also has sub-programs that reach out to the 50+ population, as well as early care and education providers and people with disabilities, providing financial coaching specific to their concerns. More information available at standbymede.org.

Contact:
Mary Dupont, State of Delaware
(302) 255-9245

Patrick McDevitt, United Way of Delaware
(302) 573-3731

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.