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Premier America Foundation partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme to support community financial education

CHATSWORTH, CA (October 4, 2021) — Premier America Foundation and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme (BGCOP) have joined forces to deliver financial education to local teens. The partnership includes a $100,000 commitment by the Foundation and a matching funds campaign by local law enforcement to promote financial empowerment in underserved and low-income communities.

“We are excited about the powerful impact that our long-term collaboration with The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme will have,” said Diana Cervantes, Executive Director of Premier America Foundation. “Our ongoing support will increase the availability of financial education resources to improve lives and benefit the community as a whole.”

“The BGCOP provides much needed support to local youth and their families and we’re proud to do our part to help them expand financial education, and improve campus facilities with this commitment,” added Premier America Foundation Chair, Gary Holmen.

Among the local support for this partnership is Port Hueneme Police Chief Andrew Salinas, who in early 2021 launched the Chief’s Challenge encouraging the community to help raise funds for educational programs.

The Foundation’s funds and resources will support BGCOP programs, including financial empowerment workshops and career readiness training to prepare the next generation to achieve their maximum potential.

“The programs implemented and sustained by these funds will provide our teens with invaluable, essential life skills that will guide them on a path to successful adulthood,” said Erin Antrim, Chief Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme. “We are incredibly grateful to Premier America Foundation for making this a possibility for our members.”

Starting in 2022, local teens can participate in Bite of Reality, a virtual hands-on money management simulation that gives participants a taste of real-life financial decisions in a fun and interactive setting. Bite of Reality can help empower youth to understand the opportunities that planning and saving make possible.

About Premier America Foundation
Premier America Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to give back to communities by supporting local organizations and providing financial empowerment programs and services for youth, and young adults. The Foundation partners with schools, philanthropic organizations and community organizations in Southern California and Houston, Texas to offer support for capital impact projects and financial capability programs, giving communities the power to make better financial choices and achieve an improved quality of life. Founded in 2017 by Premier America Credit Union, Premier America Foundation carries out the credit union’s vision to provide much-needed financial education, opportunity, and guidance to the next generation of members. Learn more about Premier America Foundation at PremierAmericaFoundation.com.

About Premier America Credit Union:
Premier America is a full-service community financial institution that offers exceptional banking to more than 100,000 Member-Owners. Member-Owners benefit from personal service, great savings rates, low fees, low loan rates and a full complement of savings, lending, wealth management, and insurance services. Founded in 1957, Premier America is one of the nation’s largest credit unions, with more than $3 billion in assets. With 20 retail branches, Premier America provides financial services to those who live, work, worship or attend school in the Ventura and Los Angeles counties of California, and the Westchase district of Houston, Texas. Learn more about Premier America at PremierAmerica.com.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
BGCOP has served as Ventura County’s premier youth development organization for over 65 years. Trained staff provide high-quality programs to a diverse population, with an emphasis in underserved and low-income communities. Services are provided in three full club facilities, three satellite sites, eleven school outreach sites, two public housing sites and one Juvenile Justice Center, the first of its kind in California. Before COVID-19, at least 2,000 youth from underserved communities were welcomed each day, with 19,000 served annually. Programs are offered under five-core program areas set-forth by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Career and Education, Character and Leadership, Health and Life Skills, the Arts, and Sports Fitness and Recreation. Programs and special initiatives focus on Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles, and have a meaningful impact and positive outcomes for the targeted population. BGCOP is an innovative and progressive youth development agency. BGCOP employs 135 staff and has a volunteer base of over 430 individuals.