Florida Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy

Teachers: click here to apply for your scholarship to attend the Jump$tart National Educator Conference, November 2-4, Louisville, KY.

Florida Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

An Independent Affiliate of the Jump$tart Coalition

The Florida Jump$tart Coalition is an independent affiliate of the national Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. The national Jump$tart Coalition is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC.  Founded in 1995, the coalition includes more than 100 national partners and a network of 51 state affiliates that share a commitment to #afinlitfuture and to working collaboratively toward common goals.

Our Mission

The Florida Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Inc. (the “Florida Jump$tart Coalition”) seeks to improve the personal financial wellness of youth and young adults within the state of Florida by being a resource and providing networking opportunities for financial capability educators throughout the state.

Our Objectives

To support those organizations and individuals in Florida that provide and support personal financial wellness programs and activities, with emphasis on the education of children and young adults.

To advocate for and encourage the creation of new personal financial capability opportunities through engagement and partnerships with personal financial education providers, funders and community leaders.

To assist personal financial education providers in Florida in locating resources and facilitating partnership opportunities.

To educate community leaders, legislators and policymakers about the importance of personal financial education and increasing financial capability.

To provide a forum in which organizations involved with personal financial wellness can exchange ideas, experiences and best practices in either virtual or in-person event formats.

Our Goals

To promote the use of high-quality personal finance materials for personal financial education activities and provide assistance to personal financial education providers in locating appropriate materials.

To make known and promote the Clearinghouse database through all Florida Jump$tart Coalition communications channels.

To identify other quality personal financial education materials that can be referred to National Jump$tart for inclusion on the Clearinghouse database.

To obtain feedback from Florida organizations as to their experiences with and recommendations for personal financial education materials they have utilized and make that information know via Florida Jump$tart Coalition communications channels.

To act as a central point of contact for and source of information about personal financial education activities in Florida for providers, supporters, and funders of personal financial education in Florida as well as community leaders and legislators.

To establish the Florida Jump$tart Coalition as a key partner with other organizations in the Financial Literacy space, including federal, state, county and city governmental entities, local school systems/boards, national and regional for profit and nonprofit organizations and organizations operating within the state of Florida.

For more information about or to become involved with the Florida Jump$tart Coalition as an educator, volunteer or partner, please contact Declan Sheehy at declansheehy@gmail.com.

Board Members

Declan Sheehy, Co-President:       

“I serve on the Jumpstart Board because I am passionate about people having the knowledge and information to make informed financial decisions that will better their own lives and the lives of others. We have a duty to educate our youth about the importance of financial literacy, with it people can never be free to pursue their full potential. The arc of the universe bends toward justice but only if we help bend it.”

Juli Lewis, Co-President:

“I serve on the Florida Jump$tart Board so that we may increase the financial capability for all ages by providing education and engaging activities and by using my own personal experience (financial mistakes) to help guide others down a less challenging path.”

Gabriela Gabor, Secretary

Brenda Hubbard, Treasurer

Mike Sheffer, Board Member

Rholine Rose, Board Member

Aaron Standish, Board Member

Dr. Joseph Krupka, Board Member

Lesley Mace, Board Member

Carlene Ulacia, Board Member

Michael Rathjen, Board Member

“I am honored for the opportunity to serve and support Florida Jump$tart as a board member because I believe that helping today’s generation make more informed financial decisions for their future creates a win-win outcome for our community as a whole. Although money is not the most important thing in life, it tends to have a direct impact on everything else that we consider to be important. When it comes to having a plan for our money, we can either make the time to prepare for our future or we will take the time to repair from our past.”

Nathalie Liriano, Board Member 

“I come from a divorced household, so I had to take on a parent role for my younger brother so my mother could work to provide for us. My mother is originally from The Dominican Republic, so it was very a difficult transition for her. I’ve always had a passion for helping others and aiding them in consulting. I then had the opportunity to participate in the Bright Minds Fresh Ideas Think Tank Internship powered by Florida Prosperity Partnership (FPP Coalition) and I am now going into my 3rd year working the program. This program helped me develop further professionalism skills, communication, public speaking, time management, program management, presentation skills, email etiquette, critical thinking, problem solving, and many more skills aiding in my career and professional growth. I serve on the Jump$tart Board to continue providing guidance and services to those who are in need.”

John Meeks, Past Chair

“I serve on the Florida Jumpstart Board because the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in managing your financial affairs as an adult are best learned before reaching adulthood. Florida Jumpstart, as a part of the national Jumpstart organization, works to provide opportunities to the youth of Florida to learn these essential skills. We work with the other stakeholders that bring financial education to youth including teachers, students, non-profit and for-profit businesses and organizations, as well as local and state government, in order to make financial education available to all the youth in Florida. It has been my privilege to work with the many dedicated people in Florida that contribute to the common goal of making Florida a financially literate state.”