Everyone needs a little encouragement, especially elementary-school kids taking tests.

“I know that you are very intelligent and always try your best which is what matters. Do your best since each exam is a step towards being that great doctor you have told me you want to be.”

That’s just one example of the special messages that McPherson Elementary School students in Napa Valley received, when 435 parents participated in a note writing campaign. It was part of a neighborhood-wide effort to raise standardized test scores to meet federal No Child Left Behind targets.

Kids were also boosted by local vendors, who donated school supplies and treats. Students got extra tutoring, and firefighters, police officers, and elected officials delivered motivational messages every morning over the PA system.

McPherson is one of several Bay Area Community Schools that is supported by United Way. Our grant supports the school’s Family Resource Center, which makes it easier for families meet basic needs by locating services right on the school campus. When families are sustaining themselves, kids can focus more on learning.

After four months of parents, teachers, and the community joining forces, tests were taken, and McPherson was one of only three elementary schools in Napa Valley Unified School District to meet all testing targets required by No Child Left Behind.

To celebrate, the Napa City Police Department closed the streets and escorted more than 700 McPherson students with about 100 teachers and community members to the new high school football stadium to honor this shared achievement. Everyone was greeted by the Napa High School marching band and cheerleaders, and the school district treated everyone present to a BBQ.

Congratulations, McPherson!

Did you know that people without bank accounts spend an average of $40 to cash just one paycheck when they use payday lenders or check-cashing stores? Even worse, this can add up to as much as $40,000 over the course of their careers!

Fortunately, Bank on American Canyon now makes it easy for unbanked residents open bank accounts and avoid expensive check cashers and payday lenders. The program was launched today by SparkPoint American Canyon and United Way, along with local banks and credit unions.

3 members of the SparkPoint American Canyon team - Stacy Lopez, Dianna Gonzalez and Sherry Tennyson - celebrate the launch of Bank on American Canyon

Bank On American Canyon simplifies the banking process, so that everyone is welcome and able to open a bank account at a reputable financial institution. In the Bay Area, the Bank On program is also active in San Francisco and Oakland.

“Everyone at Umpqua Bank is very pleased to support families in our community and financial sustainability through this great program,” said Denise Chisley, AVP Store Manager for Umpqua Bank, which is a Bank On American Canyon partner.  ”We are a community bank deeply dedicated and committed to the prosperity of our community, and I am proud that Umpqua Bank is supporting this initiative.”   
 
Residents who wish to know more about Bank on American Canyon or want help getting a bank account can call 707-980-7024.

Read the press release, “SparkPoint Launches Bank on American Canyon.”

"Not only do I live and work here, but I raise my five children here—I am deeply motivated to help in any way I can." - Umpqua Bank Store Manager Denise Chisley

Umpqua Bank proudly displays a sign in their lobby that promotes their affiliation with SparkPoint American Canyon, their neighbor just a few store fronts away.  The partnership between SparkPoint and Umpqua Bank has come out of necessity and circumstance. 

Located in southern Napa County, the small city of American Canyon (population 16,000) has been hit hard by the economic downturn.  Its population soared 69% between 2000 and 2010, while the recent combination of job losses and home foreclosures has created the perfect economic storm.

“When SparkPoint opened their doors over a year ago in American Canyon, they helped many families in stabilize the financial hemorrhaging they were experiencing,” explains Umpqua Bank Store Manager Denise Chisley. “For families with mounting financial obligations, the value of SparkPoint is tremendous -  the family-friendly center has a playroom for children, enabling parents to attend financial coaching workshops, conduct employment searches or receive career counseling, knowing that their children will be in safe environment.”

Supported by United Way, SparkPoint American Canyon Center is a one-stop, financial education center that brings together multiple services aimed at helping struggling families achieve lasting financial stability.

Bringing together community resources and partnering in creative and impactful ways throughout the year are the reasons this partnership has been so successful.   For example, during tax season, Umpqua staff volunteer for SparkPoint’s free tax preparation service, saving low-wage taxpayers upwards of $200 in fees and ensuring they claim the maximum refunds for which they qualify.
And, when the weather is warmer and days are longer, Umpqua regularly loans their ice cream mobile to SparkPoint to bring sweets, treats and smiles to the community, while spreading the message that SparkPoint is here to help.
“The partnership between Umpqua and SparkPoint is good business,” Denise says.  “If families don’t have steady income to spend at local companies, the entire community hurts. Not only do I live and work here, but I raise my five children here—I am deeply motivated to help in any way I can.”
Sherry Tennyson, director of SparkPoint American Canyon Center, says “We hope to establish many business partnerships like the one we have with Umpqua Bank, building trust with other local companies, so that we have an army of champions supporting our community and helping to spread the word about SparkPoint.”
Learn more about SparkPoint Centers throughout the Bay Area at www.sparkpointcenters.org.

SparkPoint Coach Stacy Lopez (on the right) supports clients throughout the job search process, from improving their resumes and interview skills to finding job openings

Jose Zuniga, a father of two who lives in Napa County’s American Canyon, was unemployed when he turned to SparkPoint.  It had been a while since he was last out of work, so he knew he needed to not only update his resume, but also improve his job-hunting skills.

Jose credits SparkPoint Employment Coach Stacy Lopez for giving him the encouragement and confidence he needed to persevere with his job search, follow up with potential employers and demonstrate his determination to work.  Supported by United Way, SparkPoint Centers are one-stop financial education centers that help families move out of poverty and achieve lasting financial stability.

Jose met one-on-one with Stacy and also participated in the job readiness workshop that she teaches twice a month at the SparkPoint American Canyon Center.  With Stacy’s guidance, Jose significantly enhanced his job search:  he learned how to put his resume online so employers could easily access it, he practiced his interview techniques, and he explored new job opportunities that he had not known about nor considered before.

With Stacy’s help, Jose secured a position as a warehouse forklift driver, a job he has had for seven months now. 

“I recommend Stacy to all of my friends,” says Jose.  “She’s the best.”

In addition to job coaching, SparkPoint Centers provide numerous services centered around credit, income and savings.  To learn more about SparkPoint and the American Canyon Center, visit www.sparkpointcenters.org.

The American Canyon Eagle newspaper published a great article about the recent one-year anniversary celebration at the SparkPoint American Canyon Center.  Here’s an excerpt:

SparkPoint — the United Way program the helps families with financial issues such as employment, credit, taxes, career advancement and more — marked its one-year anniversary in American Canyon last week. The program’s goal is to help families reach financial stability.

The program, operated with help from a number of businesses and nonprofit groups, runs under the auspices of the American Canyon Family Resource Center, one of only four SparkPoint Centers in the Bay Area.

City officials and several local families that have been helped by the program, along with United Way officials and program supporters, were on hand to mark the occasion.

The program covers many areas because, in the words of Shandra Thomas, a credit counselor, families need “all kinds of help.” No one comes in with “one simple problem” according to Thomas.

In the past year the program has assisted more than 20 local residents with landing jobs according to Stacy Lopez, a community employment specialist for Sparkpoint. Lopez said she helps her clients create a good resume and develop interview skills.

Read the entire article at the American Canyon Eagle website.