The Citi Foundation and NFTE are collaborating with the San Diego High School of Business to launch an entrepreneurship education program. The program is designed to improve the academic, financial, and business skills of today’s youth.

The School of Business is one of five schools across the State to receive the benefit of this collaboration. Schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles have also been supported. The program is made possible through a $100,000 Citi Foundation grant providing training, materials and program assistance in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and the Silicon Valley.

Through the Citi Foundation’s generous donation and volunteer service from Citi employees, business teacher Kelly Granfield has received intensive training, supplies and program assistance in order to support her teaching entrepreneurship and business classes. In these classes, students develop and apply writing, math, critical reasoning, and public speaking skills by learning how to build a business.

“It is critical that we prepare youth for the future and NFTE’s entrepreneurship curriculum does just that,” said Citi’s Gustavo Bidart. “Citi knows the value of young people learning how to manage finances and effectively communicate. We are proud to partner with NFTE and continue our longstanding support of developing the financial literacy and business skills of our youth.”

According to a recent study conducted by Harvard University Graduate School of Education, NFTE graduates’ interest in college increased 32% and their occupational aspirations increased 44% after participating in the program.

Originally launched in New York as a dropout prevention program, NFTE’s entrepreneurship education program teaches low income students the business skills they need to start their own small business, while reinforcing basic academic skills. NFTE’s goal is to give young people the skills and confidence to seize their true potential and improve their lives and communities.