Concerned with the high debt ratios affecting a number of clients, CCETN applied for and received a grant from Dave Ramsay's Financial Peace Foundation. The in-kind grant award has provided the agency with all materials needed to offer the highly acclaimed Financial Peace University classes to tuition evaluation, housing counseling, and transitional housing clients throughout East Tennessee.
"Because Catholic Charities is all about promoting self-sufficiency, we wanted to give our clients more than a quick-fix for their financial situations," Charlaine Hood, Knoxville regional director, said.
Hood was instrumental in obtaining the grant and in recruiting the instructors needed to pilot the program in the Knoxville area. CCETN has so far partnered with All Saints Parish, Sacred Heart and St. Joseph school to offer the 13-week seminar for existing clients.. Classes meet one night a week for two hours and are available in English and Spanish. Because the weekly topics are the same at each location, participants can attend any site and stay current with the curriculum.
The next round of classes began in April and include St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Lenoir City and St. Mary's in Oak Ridge. Resources are available to offer Financial Peace University for CCETN clients anywhere in the Diocese. Anyone interested in volunteering your time to facilitate the program through your parish or other organization should contact Charlaine Hood at 865-524-9896.
