$2,500 grant for financial literacy program

The Long Island Council of Churches has received a $2,500 grant to help support its financial literacy program designed to educate consumers in how to make wise home-buying decisions and avoid predatory lending practices.

It was one of 23 grants to New York nonprofits, awarded by the TD Charitable Foundation, TD Bank’s giving arm. (Learn more about them at www.tdbank.com/default.aspx) In all, the bank awarded $102,000 from May through July, according to a release. Since 2008, the Long Island Council’s educational initiative has received a total of $20,000 from the bank.

The council’s program was started about eight years ago to address lending scams, finding it useful also to educate consumers on their options so they were less likely to jump at what they saw as their only choice, said Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue, executive director. In recent years the program has been addressing ways to keep people who are already in trouble in their homes.

The council works with churches, agencies, senior citizen centers to design customized panels and sessions, based on attendees’ needs.

“We’re trying to keep people from falling into the river, instead of pulling them out,” said Goodhue. But, “we’re glad to help pull out the ones we can.”

To learn more, visit www.liccny.org and see programs.

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