The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative is the recipient of The Primerica Foundation’s $50,000 grant


07/24/2015

The Primerica Foundation has again selected The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative for its $50,000 grant. This is not a surprise since Primerica is always there to help the those who have been deprived of a childhood surrounded by friends and family.


Most middle income families are familiar with brand Primerica, since they are the main subscribers to its leading financial products. The Primerica Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Primerica has announced a $50,000 grant to The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative (ODBI) Non-Profit-Organisation. This grant will benefit teenagers from Georgia who are either homeless or are at risk of being so, or in the process of coming out of the foster care system.
 
This was announced at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, during the opening session of Primerica’s International Convention, which had an audience of at least 40,000 people. Primerica CEO Glenn Williams presented the grant award to Sam Bracken, the co-founder of ODBI.
 
“Primerica is a company that cares – and we don’t just say it – we show it each and every day. It’s unimaginable that thousands of Georgia teens are homeless or will soon be too old to remain in the foster care system. These kids did not choose to be in this situation and they deserve a chance for a better future. We applaud the exceptional work done by the ODBI and are proud to support this worthwhile organization,” said Williams.
 
“ODBI is grateful to Primerica for its belief in Georgia’s most vulnerable students and its investment in their future success. Together we are breaking the cycle of poverty and changing the trajectory of their lives.” said Sam Bracken, co-author of My Orange Duffel Bag: A Journey to Radical Change and co-Founder of The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative.
 
This was pleasantly interesting, since Bracken was once a homeless kid but thanks to his determination and positive thinking, went on to become a star football player for Georgia Tech. He is now working as an executive with Franklin Covey. The reference to the “Orange Duffel Bag” is a reminder to the time when everything that he owned was packed in an orange duffel bag.
 
Sadly, studies have shown that amongst all those teenagers who typically sign themselves out of foster care, around 20% have gone on to study in High School, 40% become homeless and 60% of boys are driven to commit crimes. More than half of all foster children typically have been victims of identity theft. The nation’s public schools report 1.2 million K-12 students are certified homeless and 35,000 of them are located in Georgia.
 
Since, its inception in 2011, The Primerica Foundation has focused on supporting organisations that help and support low-to-moderate income families to become financially more stable and self-sufficient.
 
“The work that The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative is doing is a perfect fit for our philanthropic focus,” said Karen Fine Saltiel, President of The Primerica Foundation.
 
Since 2013, the Primerica Foundation has funded ODBI. The fund has been used to purchase laptops for the students graduating from the program, transportation for teens participating in ODBI programs and other program expenses. Over 500 teens have graduated from ODBI programs.
 
About Primerica, Inc.
Headquartered in Duluth, GA, Primerica Inc., is a leading distributor of financial products to middle income house across North America. Representatives from Primerica educate their on how to better prepare for a more secure financial future. This is done by first assessing their needs and then providing them with appropriate solutions through life insurance, underwritten by Primerica, mutual funds, annuities and other financial products.

In addition to this, Primerica also provides an entrepreneurial business opportunity to individuals, be it part time of full time, who seek to earn an income derived by distributing the company’s financial products.

Primerica has insured more than 4 million lives and over 2 million client investment accounts as on 31 December, 2014. Its stock is listed in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 2000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the “PRI” symbol.
 
References: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150723006513/en#.VbISQKSqqko