Red Mountain Branch Teen Development Specialist honored with Innovation Award

Angela DiCicco, Teen Development Specialist at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s (BGCS) Red Mountain Branch, was presented with the prestigious Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2019 Money Matters Innovation Award. Council Members Michael Dallas and Tom Largo were on hand to recognize DiCicco at the BGCS all-staff meeting held at the Lehi Community Center on Thursday, April 4.

The Innovation Award recognizes only 6 Clubs nationally who are implementing innovative financial literacy programming. DiCicco created a comic book to go hand-in-hand with the BGCA Money Matters curriculum helping Club members become interested in and understand the importance of financial responsibility. The Red Mountain BGCS Branch will receive $1,000 from Boys & Girls Clubs of America as a result of the program’s enhancement created by DiCicco.

“A lot of our teens are into comic books and our younger kids love them too,” said DiCicco. “It’s a good way to inspire both youth and teens with the message of financial responsibility that all of our Clubs can use.”

Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members ages 13 to 18. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, create a budget, save and invest, start small businesses, and pay for college.

“We recognize that increasing the financial literacy of youth in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is a priority for our organization,” said Tamara Littlesalt-Butler, BGCS Vice President of Native American & Community Services. “Angela’s ability to retool program curriculums to fit the needs and interests of our youth has helped us make a huge impact for our members.”

The Red Mountain Branch and the Lehi Branch of BGCS are both located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and the organization’s youth development programming at www.bgcs.org.