Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Popstock Educational Services Inc.
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: PopStock
Mailing Address: 274 Center Avenue
City: Buffalo
State: NY
Postal Code: 14223
Main Phone: (877) 829-5500
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://popstock.io
Employer ID Number: 93-4178952
Organization Tax Status: Nonprofit 501c(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/10/2024
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Financial Literacy for Underserved Youth
Project Description:

Our mission is to empower America’s underprivileged youth with financial knowledge they need to succeed. We seek to accomplish this mission through our proprietary software product which combines today’s pop culture icons with a stock market simulation tool. A web-based platform and app that mimics programs like TD Ameritrade and Robinhood, PopStock is infused with known music entertainment aspects so that high schoolers can safely practice “investing in the market” and make mistakes, learn from their decisions, and carry those lessons forward when planning their financial futures.

Mirroring a combination of features found in Google Finance, E-Trade, and Bloomberg, the platform adjusts market values as trades are made against a specific algorithm tied to award show wins, listens, chart placements, followers, and more. We make learning a complex and intimidating financial system easy by correlating music-related metrics to metrics used by traders to understand company value, growth potential, and investment worthiness. By including various factors and perspectives in the valuation of pop stars, the students learn how to take a “big picture” approach to investing. This results in a highly transferrable skill that can prepare them for better decision-making not only for their financial futures but for virtually every aspect of adult life.

Financial literacy education is the key to generational wealth: as young people become more financially literate, families, businesses, communities, and the nation become stronger and more financially resilient. If knowledge of the stock market can be understood at a young age, it can be the foundation for future investments in the real world, including retirement plan portfolios, IRAs, and individual trading accounts. In addition to the goal of financial literacy, we seek to narrow the wealth gap over time by targeting high schools across the nation, with a particular focus on low-income, historically marginalized, and poor populations.

Total Project Budget: $437,300

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): During the first year of operation in 2023, all 3 volunteer staff donated their money and time to get the organization moving. They continue to offer this support as we seek to raise funds to sustain the organization through the development phase and to begin delivering services to schools.

Project Duration: 1/1/2025-12/31/2025
Geographical Area Served: New York and contiguous States; ultimately all U.S. States
Age Group To Be Served: 13-18 years old

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Mike
Contact Last Name: Helwig
Contact Title: Founder and Executive Director
Contact Phone: (877) 829-5500
Contact Email: mike@popstock.io