Every kindergartner in Hamilton now starts school with a savings account of their own

Starting school is a big moment — and in Hamilton, Michigan, it now comes with a first savings account. Hamilton Community Schools has joined My Future Fund, a children's savings programme run with the Allegan County Community Foundation, in a new partnership called Hamilton Gives. From January, every current kindergartner at the district will receive an account seeded with $65, with monthly deposit days, money lessons and small incentives to help it grow over the years. The partnership also creates five new funds for the wider community — supporting school events, career exploration, students training for a commercial driver's licence, and a long-term endowment — all built on one simple idea, in the foundation's words: a town coming together to invest in its kids and believe in their futures.

SDG 4 · Quality education — Mechanism: institutional program