Insiders Update for April 2026
April 21st, 2026
We have been busy since our last edition of the Insiders Update! We’ve held more classes, educated more young people, and coached more vulnerable community members.
Our updated curriculum is sought after, and we are lining up additional trainings for the fall! Our comprehensive train-the-trainer model is being requested, and we are excited to help make it possible for more organizations to bring high-quality financial wellness education to their employees and participants. We are energized by the response.
As we move into the spring and summer, we plan to continue working to engage more schools, as we know the importance of working with youth.
Call to Action
Do you know someone who could use a little extra support with their finances right now? Maybe they’re feeling stuck living paycheck to paycheck, trying to get out from under debt, or working toward a financial goal but unsure of the next step.
If someone comes to mind, we’d love to help. Feel free to connect us! We are here to walk alongside people as they build stability, confidence, and a stronger financial future.
Expand Our Impact
Do you have a connection at a business or organization that cares about the financial well-being of its employees? Many employers are looking for meaningful ways to support their teams, and financial wellness is a powerful place to start.
If someone comes to mind, we’d truly appreciate an introduction. A simple connection can open the door to life-changing support for an entire workforce. Feel free to reply to this email or contact us directly as we’d love to start the conversation.
Reaching & Empowering the Next Generation
Our Youth Financial Wellness pilot program continues to gain momentum at a local high school. Students are deeply engaged with the curriculum, sparking meaningful conversations not only in the classroom, but at home as well. They are building practical skills like budgeting, identifying spending leaks, developing a financial identity, and understanding the importance of saving for the future.
Recently, students took part in a thoughtful discussion about money values—what matters the most and why. While they recognized that security and stability are essential, they also came to an important realization: no single value, on its own, is enough to create a fulfilling life. True financial wellness requires balance. Even the most important priorities, when pursued in isolation, can leave something missing like the ability to enjoy the life you’re working so hard to build.
With your support, we can expand this work and reach more young people with the tools and confidence they need for a strong financial future. If you’re inspired by what these students are learning, we invite you to join us in making this impact possible.
Next month, we are excited to launch a new cohort of students from Germaine’s Culinary Inc. and Cedar Independence. Through this collaboration, we are reaching individuals living with disabilities, ensuring they have access to financial knowledge that is too often out of reach.
Your support makes this work possible.
Together, we are equipping students with practical everyday money skills that build independence, confidence, and long-term stability. Each lesson is designed not just to inform, but to empower, meeting students where they are and helping them take meaningful steps forward.
Over the course of four weeks, students build skills that can immediately impact their daily lives.
• Week 1: Understanding the role of money, distinguishing between needs and wants, and creating a simple, visual plan for spending.
• Week 2: Learn how to stay safe, recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and navigating the early stages of employment with confidence.
• Week 3: Breaking down how paychecks work, from gross to net income, while introducing savings habits and achievable financial goals.
• Week 4: Exploring safe banking options, understanding direct deposit, and gaining exposure to tools like ABLE accounts that support financial independence.
This program is about more than financial education: it is about access, dignity, and the opportunity for each student to feel confident managing their own financial future.
New Volunteer Financial Coach Training: Thursday, September 17, 2026
We’re rebuilding our Volunteer Financial Coach program, and we would love for you to be a part of it. Volunteer Financial Coaches help neighbors gain practical money skills, confidence, and lasting financial stability. Our next training cohort begins on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Whether you’re new to volunteering or returning, this is a meaningful way to make a direct community impact.
Interested? Reserve your spot by emailing amy@savefirstfinancial.org. Please include your name and whether you’re a new or returning volunteer.
Thank you for supporting our mission—we can’t wait to work with you in support of our clients.
Growing Our Team
We’re excited to share that we have hired an Operations Coordinator! Jessica Wyndham joined our team on March 9 and has hit the ground running!
Jessica has worked in the non-profit sector for well over a decade, focusing on operations, communications, and administration. She is excited to be a part of the Save First team and its mission to help people experience financial freedom and wellness. She loves to use her gifts and abilities to contribute to something bigger than herself, hence the love for non-profits and doing work that matters so much to so many.
Hyper-organized and detail-oriented, Jessica loves to be the behind-the-scenes person that keeps everything running smoothly. Born and raised in South Carolina, the Southern accent may be unshakeable, but she has a deep love for her chosen home of the Pacific Northwest. Jessica is a wife and mother to four children, and in her free time loves to cook (and eat), volunteer at her church, and attempt to garden.
Rose Tomassi Carroll, is excited to bring financial literacy to teens through her work developing and piloting the Save First Youth Financial Literacy curriculum. After over a decade in the classroom in both university and high school settings, she has seen how many younger students are interested in learning about finances and frequently hears from adults that they wish they had learned more about managing money in middle and high school. Her background in literature, history, and philosophy have given her the tools to prepare creative and logical lessons that help students understand the context for their money questions and experiences and develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed as adults.
A native of Portland, Rose spent over 15 years on the East Coast before moving back to the area with her husband last year. She is delighted to be surrounded once again by trees, rivers, and mountains and looks forward to the summer sunshine and the lack of humidity! In her free time, Rose loves to cook, make homemade bread, read, garden, and do a variety of crafts.
Tai Star has joined our team this year as a Financial Educator. He is a trusted mortgage professional and proud U.S. Navy Veteran with over 10 years of service, including Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. With many years of experience in the mortgage and lending industry, Tai brings integrity, clarity, and a people-centered approach to homeownership.
Tai is committed to helping individuals and families understand their options, align loans with their budget and long-term goals, and navigate the home-buying process with confidence. His approach reflects Save First’s mission, empowering people through education, transparency, and informed financial decision-making.
Together, we are building a strong and sustainable foundation for the future of this work, and we thank you for your involvement.
Next Steps
There are many ways to be a part of this work. If you’re interested in any of the following, we would love to hear from you:
Do you know someone who could use some extra financial support and guidance? Refer them to us, and we will work to help them meet their financial goals.
Do you have a connection at a business or organization that might be interested in providing the services of Save First to their employee base? Make that connection by contacting molly@savefirstfinancial.org.
How about a school or community program? Making that connection can help us help the next generation.
If you would like to support our mission financially, click this link (all gifts are tax-deductible).
Together, we can bring financial wellness to more people across our region.