Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) will be providing money management education, credit counseling and debt management assistance to those impacted by the August 2023 wildfires with a grant from the American Red Cross.

The $1.4 million grant, which runs through July 2025, includes two other nonprofits – Texas-based Money Management International and Oahu-based Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. MEO’s portion of the grant is about $300,000.

The goal of the grant is to provide financial education and housing counseling to ensure that those impacted by the wildfires have the tools to recover and rebuild, the Red Cross said in a news release.

MEO’s Business Development Center (BDC) has been offering adult and youth financial literacy classes for years, covering money management, personal credit and basic investment information.  BDC staff also are certified credit counselors with debt management skills.

Workshops and services are offered on Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lana‘i at no cost to participants.

Earlier this week, 12 youth completed the two-day Teen Financial Literacy workshop at the J. Walter Cameron Center. The instructors were BDC specialist Lianne Peros-Busch and American Savings Bank Kehalani Foodland Branch Manager Jaimie Dukelow. The teen workshop is typically offered during fall and summer breaks; BDC specialists also have taken the workshop to Maui High and will be offering the curriculum at King Kekaulike High.

“This grant from the American Red Cross taps into a strength of our Business Development Center with financial education and credit counseling,” said MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe. “In addition, we have worked with the American Red Cross on relief efforts in Lahaina and Kula.

“Partnerships are an integral piece of MEO’s work in the Maui County community. Grants such as this broadens MEO’s reach. We are gratified that national organizations, like the American Red Cross, trust MEO and work we do.

More details will be forthcoming from MEO.