Marianne Dahl

Launch Okanagan hosted a breakfast fundraiser Tuesday, November 5th to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. The Launch Okanagan Breakfast, presented by TD Bank Group, brought together over 175 guests from local businesses, financial services and non-profit agencies to celebrate and discuss the impact of financial literacy in our region.

The morning included a buffet breakfast reception, sponsored by Highstreet, followed by a special presentation and panel discussion with program partners. This year’s focus was on client barriers and challenges with respect to financial needs.

All set!

 

Breakfast guests at Higher Grounds Cafe and dining area – sponsored by Highstreet:

 

Program – presentation, panelists and video: 

Thanks again to our amazing sponsors:

Presenting sponsor: TD Bank Group

Breakfast reception: Highstreet

Video sponsor: Nicola Wealth

Supporting sponsors: BMO Private Wealth, Enriched Academy, Lawson Lundell LLP, Mike Wright & Associates, Three Point Capital, and Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union.

The fundraiser supports Launch Okanagan’s free programs and services in the community. To donate or get more info visit: http://launchokanagan.ca

Launch Okanagan’s workshops sponsored by MNP will run this fall on Zoom 

 

This year, the theme of November’s Financial Literacy Month is “Money on Your Mind. Talk about it”. Money is a difficult topic for many Canadians to discuss, but research shows that talking about money builds financial confidence, and can lead to better financial outcomes.  

 

Sponsored by MNP, Launch Okanagan will offer four one-hour Zoom workshops on each Thursday in November. Everyone is welcome!  Participate in Financial Literacy Month by attending one (or more!) of the following workshops: 

 

• Launch My Budget is the first workshop of the series. Participants learn how to create a budget and, more importantly, how to stick to it. After the workshop, all participants will be provided with a budgeting guide and other tools and resources to help keep their budget organized and up to date. 

• Managing Debt 101 is the second workshop that tackles the big, and often stressful, topic of debt. This workshop helps participants take a step back, review their debt situation, and create strategies on how to work on repaying and taking control of their debt. 

• RESP Essentials is the third workshop that explains these special savings accounts that allow you to save for your child’s education after high school. The workshop reviews the requirements and steps to opening a RESP, as well as commonly asked questions and useful tips. Finally, Launch Okanagan share various grants you can apply for to help grow your savings. 

• RDSP Essentials ends the month with information on Registered Disability Savings Plans, aka RDSPs. Similarly to RESP Essentials, the workshop covers who is eligible, how to apply, and extra supports that may be available to grow your savings. 

“At MNP, we believe that financial literacy is a key component to personal and community success, and we are proud to partner with Launch Okanagan to bring these workshops to our community,” says Jeané Herman, Kelowna Licensed Insolvency Trustee. “Through this partnership, our goal is to provide individuals with practical tools and resources to take control of their finances, to reduce stress, and to build a better future for themselves and their families.” 

 

All workshops are free to attend and will be delivered on Zoom by a Launch Okanagan facilitator. If you can’t join a workshop live, you can still register, and you will be emailed a recording of the class and any related materials. You may choose to attend any of the available workshops, and all levels of participation are welcome. Participants can choose to interact and ask questions or simply listen and be an anonymous participant.  

 

“At Launch Okanagan, we understand the real challenges that people are currently facing with their finances,” says Jennifer Robins, Executive Director.  “Now more than ever it’s important to learn practical financial skills that you can put into action right away.  Building your financial skills will also help to build your confidence and ability to make sound financial decisions.” 

 

To register, visit https://launchokanagan.ca/workshops or contact Launch Okanagan at [email protected].  

 

 

Local financial services community gathers for 3rd annual breakfast fundraiser 

 

Launch Okanagan is hosting their 3rd annual breakfast fundraiser to celebrate Financial Literacy Month November 5th at the Trinity Church Hub.

 

The Launch Okanagan Breakfast, presented by TD Bank Group, will bring together local businesses, financial services and non-profit agencies to celebrate and discuss the impact of financial literacy in our region. The morning will include a buffet breakfast reception, sponsored by Highstreet, followed by a special presentation and panel discussion with program partners. This year’s focus will be on building community connections to enrich local lives.

 

“This year we are excited to celebrate the people that participate in our programs and the impact that our programs have on their lives,” says Jennifer Robins, Executive Director of Launch Okanagan. “The audience will hear from recent graduates of our Matched Savings program, and I will share more about the impact we have created over the past year.  We are also thrilled to have 4 other non-profit agencies join us on stage to discuss how we can work together to overcome the challenges to achieving financial inclusion in our community.”

 

Last year, Launch Okanagan delivered 46 programs and collaborated with 20 local program partners enabling 904 participants (an increase of 30% from the previous year) to take part free of charge. Launch Okanagan is the only local provider of these types of programs which are delivered online via Zoom and in person by partnering with local non-profit organizations. The people that Launch support are considered financially vulnerable, including people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, single parents, youth and people recovering from addiction. With the help of Launch’s programs and one on one coaching, people develop crucial money management and budgeting skills allowing them to prepare and plan for a more resilient financial future.

 

Join Launch Okanagan and the local business and non-profit community to enable access to financial literacy for everyone in our community. All proceeds of the event will support Launch Okanagan programs.

 

Get your tickets at: http://launchbreakfast.ca  

 

Presented by:

Launch Okanagan’s Executive Director, Jennifer Robins was invited back to Money Tips Monday on December 1. In this segment, Jennifer discusses the importance of financial literacy and Launch’s recent fundraising event.

 

Check it out here!

 

Local financial services community gathers this November for Financial Literacy Month

 

October 24, 2023  – Launch Okanagan welcomes financial life skills advocate and author, Nancy Phillips, on November 7, 2023 as the keynote speaker at their 2^nd annual breakfast fundraiser.

 

The Launch Okanagan Breakfast, presented by TD Bank Group, will host hundreds of local business and financial services community members gathering at the Coast Capri Hotel to celebrate Financial Literacy Month and support financial literacy programs in our region.

 

Nancy is the award-winning author of Wela Way Financial Life Skills resources – accredited by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and FINRA in the U.S. She is an international business consultant and has been featured in the Globe and Mail and over 70 radio shows. Her presentation experience includes speaking live for Raymond James U.S., Mindvalley University, Canada Life Insurance and more.

 

“The majority of Canadians are now experiencing financial challenges and stress,” says Nancy Phillips. “It has never been more important to discuss the human factors involved and provide solutions for daily life so this vicious cycle doesn’t continue in our community and country. This is what we’re going to talk about November 7^th.”

 

This year’s event will feature a unique mix and mingle breakfast reception sponsored by the CFA Society Okanagan. The fundraiser includes an online 50/50 raffle and topical presentations with all proceeds supporting the maintenance and expansion of Launch Okanagan programs in our community.

 

Last year, Launch Okanagan delivered 37 programs and collaborated with 20 local program partners enabling 695 participants to take part free of charge. This year, they expanded their services to offer one hour community workshops to complement the financial education programs. The majority of participants are youth, single moms and dads, families, and other individuals who develop crucial money management and budgeting skills allowing them to prepare and plan for a more resilient financial future for their families.

 

Tickets and tables are nearly sold out. Get your breakfast and 50/50 tickets at: http://launchbreakfast.ca

Download Media Release

Launch Okanagan’s workshops sponsored by MNP will run this fall on Zoom

 

October 16, 2023 (Kelowna, BC) – Participate in Financial Literacy Month by reviewing your finances.  Sponsored by MNP, Launch Okanagan is hosting free, one-hour Zoom workshops on November 9 and 23 starting at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome!

 

Launch My Budget is the first in the two-part series. Participants will learn how to create a budget and, more importantly, how to stick to it. They will review the steps to follow when creating a budget and will be given some tips and tools to help them integrate budgeting into their life. After the workshop, all participants will be provided with a budgeting guide and other tools and resources to help keep their budget organized and up to date.

 

Managing Debt 101 is the second workshop that tackles the big, and often stressful, topic of debt. Many Canadians struggle to talk about money, especially when it involves discussing debt. This workshop helps participants take a step back, review their debt situation, and create strategies on how to work on repaying and taking control of their debt.

 

“At MNP, we believe that financial literacy is a key component to personal and community success, and we are proud to partner with Launch Okanagan to bring these workshops to our community,” says Jeané Herman, Kelowna Licensed Insolvency Trustee. “Through this partnership, our goal is to provide individuals with practical tools and resources to take control of their finances, to reduce stress, and to build a better future for themselves and their families.”

 

Both workshops will be delivered on Zoom and facilitated by Jennifer Robins, Executive Director of Launch Okanagan. If you can’t join either workshop live, you can still register, and you will be emailed a recording of the class and any related materials. You may choose to join one or both workshops, and all levels of participation are welcome. Participants can choose to interact and ask questions or simply listen and be an anonymous participant.

 

“At Launch Okanagan, we understand the real challenges that people are currently facing with their finances,” says Jennifer Robins, Executive Director.  “Now more than ever it’s important to learn practical financial skills that you can put into action right away.  Building your financial skills will also help to build your confidence and ability to make sound financial decisions.“

 

To register, visit https://launchokanagan.ca/workshops or contact Launch Okanagan at [email protected].