California

State Farm Agent in Fontana Makes Financial Literacy Possible for High School Students

On December 8, State Farm Agent Phil Cothran began his day at 7:40 a.m., not at his office, but at Summitt High School in Fontana. Seven workshops later, ending with the final school bell, Cothran was able to teach 155 students the basics of credit and budgeting.

The idea to hold the Make It Possible financial literacy workshops came about when Cothran  and State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Felicia Van Frank participated in Fontana Unified School District’s Regional Occupational Program Advisory Meeting as panelists for the school’s curriculum. During the meeting, Cothran and Van Frank discussed some of the State Farm programs available to students to better prepare them for the future. 

As a result, Jennifer Orton of Summit High School approached State Farm about providing students in her class with a financial literacy workshop. Cothran readily agreed, not realizing Orton intended for him to teach all of her students at the high school.

The size of this undertaking didn’t deter Cothran. He scheduled a full day at the high school to teach the Credit Basics workshop and discuss creating and sticking to a budget. 

“What a remarkable day!” Coltran said. “Teaching high school students everyday life skills is the one of the jobs of a State Farm agent and these kids put me to task.”

Make It Possible is a campaign sponsored by State Farm Bank®. The campaign consists of financial education and first time homebuyer workshops. They are conducted in partnership with a community-based organization, a local bank-certified State Farm agent, and State Farm Bank.

Lori Harrison, one of Cothran’s team members, commented, “The workshops were very successful and the students were engaged.”

As he was walking out of the school, Coltran saw a State Farm folder on the dashboard of a car and one of the students talking with her father about the presentation. The father made a point to share that he felt it was important this type of education be taught in the schools and he was grateful to Cothran for doing it. 

For more information, visit the State Farm Make It Possible website.