NUL Announces 3rd Year of 'Know Your Money' Program

    NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Urban League has announced
 the 2004 return of the well-received economic empowerment program, Know Your
 Money(TM).  Introduced two years ago by Altria Group, Inc. in
 partnership with the National Urban League, the curriculum-based program is
 designed to strengthen the economic foundation of African-American communities
 and bring about a systemic change in attitudes about money and money
 management.
     The National Urban League will be spearheading the program this year, with
 classes to again be held in the host cities of Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD;
 Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO and
 Washington, D.C.
     NBA Hall Of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson served as national spokesperson
 for the Program in years one and two. Local spokespersons for this year's
 program have not yet been identified.
     "The National Urban League's 2001 State of Black America study reported
 that young African American professionals view economic empowerment as a
 priority," said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League.  "A
 critical part of that process is to understand and practice the principles of
 sound money management.  For more than two years now, Know Your Money has
 provided the essential knowledge, foundation and tools that will enable our
 community to begin to chart a sound financial future."
     The 2004 Know Your Money courses will begin in September in most markets,
 and will be implemented by local National Urban League Young Professionals
 (NULYP) chapters in each city.  The program was developed in response to
 extensive research commissioned by Altria and conducted among African-
 American business leaders, community activists, media and professionals, which
 identified economic empowerment as a leading community issue.
     "The continued enthusiasm for, and consistent number of graduates
 completing the Know Your Money program demonstrates that it contains the
 necessary components needed by African-American young adults to effectively
 manage their personal finances," said A. Shuanise Washington, vice president,
 government affairs policy and outreach, Altria Corporate Services, Inc.
     "With the National Urban League now taking the lead on this important
 initiative, we are proud to have done our part to help answer the call for
 economic parity in the African-American community."
     The Know Your Money program, which includes a three-class curriculum
 taught by business and academic experts over a 12-week period, will provide
 African-American professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 with a more
 comprehensive understanding of personal money management.  The curriculum,
 designed by financial consultant and author Carla J. Cargle, includes
 coursework focused on improving participants' understanding of budgeting, the
 value of money and other essential tools of personal asset management.  At the
 conclusion of the course, participants are armed with the tools and foundation
 upon which to build long-term economic stability for themselves, their
 families and their communities.
      Enrollment in Know Your Money courses will be limited to 100 participants
 in each city, in order to allow for an interactive learning environment.
 Interested individuals may call 1-888/537-8510 for details about registration,
 class schedules and venues.  Applications will be received and processed by
 the NULYP chapter in each host market, and those accepted for enrollment will
 be required to pay a $30 registration fee to NULYP, which covers course
 materials, class sessions and a discounted one-year membership in
 the local NULYP chapter.
 
     About Altria Group, Inc.
     Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:   MO) is the parent company of Kraft Foods Inc.,
 Philip Morris International Inc. and Philip Morris USA Inc.  For more than
 four decades, the companies of Altria have provided sustained and wide-ranging
 support of programs that address important community needs.  Since first
 partnering with the NUL in the 1940s, Altria companies have played an active
 role in supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of diverse
 communities through both leadership and economic development.  Additional
 information about the Know Your Money program and other community initiatives
 supported by the Altria family of companies is available at
 http://www.altria.com/media_programs .
 
     About the National Urban League
     The National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-
 based movement empowering African-Americans to enter the economic and social
 mainstream.  Founded in 1910, the National Urban League, headquartered in New
 York City, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with affiliates in more
 than 100 cities in 34 states as well as the District of Columbia.
     As part of the National Urban League's ongoing efforts to cultivate future
 African-American business and political leadership, the NUL established the
 National Urban League Young Professionals organization in 2000.  Today, there
 are more than 28 active and over a dozen incipient Young Professionals
 chapters in cities throughout the nation, working together with the affiliates
 of the NUL to support financial literacy, real world education and related
 political participation programs and initiatives for African-Americans.
     For more information about the National Urban League and the NULYP, please
 visit the organization's Web site at http://www.nul.org .
 
 

SOURCE  National Urban League