By University Communications
Monday, 04 04 2022

Amerigroup Donation Coincides with Financial Literacy Month in April    

SAN ANTONIO – Recognizing the critical connection between families’ financial health and physical and mental health, Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-San Antonio) is partnering with Amerigroup Texas to support the University’s Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement’s Financial Literacy program. 

Amerigroup Texas has made a $30,000 donation to A&M-San Antonio that will allow the program to hire two Graduate Assistants for the 2022-2023 academic year and through the summer of 2023. 

The announcement comes as the nation kicks off Financial Literacy Month in April, which the U.S. Government has formally recognized since 2003. 

“For our students and the greater community to have the knowledge and skills to navigate their personal finances is absolutely critical, particularly amidst recent economic changes,” said Krystina Irvin, Director of Experiential Learning with the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement at A&M-Santonio. 

“The University is eager to embark on this partnership with Amerigroup to further equip A&M-San Antonio students and our surrounding community with financial literacy education; we are grateful for the acknowledgment of our accomplishments to date and the resources from Amerigroup to expand our reach moving forward,” Irvin continued.

The Mays Center Financial Literacy program provides students and community members and their families with learning opportunities related to basic finances and budgeting; credit management; and education finances, including paying for college, savings, and investing. 

“Amerigroup is an innovator and supporter of solutions that improve overall health outcomes. It is easy to see how financial literacy is critical to achieving financial health, which influences both physical and mental health outcomes,” said Greg Thompson, President of Amerigroup Texas. “As an organization dedicated to addressing whole health needs and advancing overall health, it makes us proud to align ourselves with Texas A&M-San Antonio to support its students and provide the resources they need to improve their lives.” 

The Mays Center program empowers Texas students and families, both on and off campus, to manage their paychecks, balance their budgets, and prepare financially for unexpected crises. It does so through one-on-one peer financial counseling, presentations in classes and elsewhere on campus, and workshops and table events in the community 

Since 2019, the program has:

• Reached more than 1,000 students through events or in class, covering such topics as inflation, interest, credit, borrowing, and investment.
• Provided 26 individual money coaching appointments in areas such as budgets, credit, and paying for college.
• Completed more than 110 community engagements and presentations.
• Funded stipends and scholarships for 11 Financial Literacy Fellows. 

The two Graduate Assistants funded by Amerigroup Texas’ donation will recruit, select, train, and supervise undergraduate students to facilitate financial programming. They will supervise and conduct consistent check-ins with up to eight Financial Literacy Fellows, hold regular office hours, and assist with conducting surveys, developing programs, and creating marketing materials. 

Launched in 2019, the Mays Center Financial Literacy program received initial one-time funding of $25,000 from Wells Fargo. The program expanded in 2020 with partnerships in surrounding low-income Southside school districts for their GEAR UP and Junior Achievement programs, which faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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 About Amerigroup Texas

Amerigroup Texas helps improve health care access and quality for approximately 850,000 Texans by developing innovative care management programs and services. Members are assured care that is not only accessible but also accountable, comprehensive, integrated, and patient-centered. Amerigroup Texas provides ongoing community relations and outreach to encourage members to become active participants in their health care. Through health education programs, members are empowered to choose and sustain a healthy lifestyle. For more information about Amerigroup Texas, visit www.myamerigroup.com/tx. 

About Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in south San Antonio, the University offers 33 undergraduate degrees and 16 graduate degrees to nearly 7,000 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and is one of only 24 higher education institutions in the U.S. to have received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. More than 75 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and 73 percent are the first in their family to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; in 2020, Military Times ranked the University No. 35 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges.” Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission