Lisa M. Borders, Chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation, recently announced a $1 million contribution to Operation HOPE to provide financial education to women and girls primarily living in the southeastern United States.  Borders shared details of the initiative during the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Agency for International Development's Financial Inclusion Forum. The contribution, supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. and Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, will fund the expansion and delivery of Operation HOPE's nationally-acclaimed financial literacy, career training and entrepreneurship programs. 

"Many women never really learn to be financially literate, especially those in underserved communities," expressed Borders. "The Coca-Cola partnership with Operation HOPE will teach women the language of money and will empower them with the skills to manage their finances for a lifetime of financial dignity."

The funds will support Operation HOPE programs that provide women with the financial literacy necessary to manage finances, increase credit scores, establish their businesses and achieve their "Silver Rights."    

"Financial Inclusion is a key part of expanding and strengthening the economic fabric of America, " said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE founder and member of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans. "Through Project 5117, Operation HOPE aims to raise the financial acumen of underserved communities."

This is the second collaboration between Operation HOPE and Coca-Cola. In 2014, the two collaborated on a series of events entitled "The Atlanta Economic Empowerment Tour."  With a focus on Bryant's best-selling book How The Poor Can Save Capitalism, the tour demonstrated the need for a larger, dedicated program to empowering women and served as the catalyst for this recent initiative.