Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Siddhi Tandon. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
When Siddhi Tandon earned her first paycheck, she realized she didn’t even know which bank account to deposit it into. She also learned that she wasn’t alone. Washington, her home state, is one of 11 without mandated financial literacy education in high school. So the high school student decided to build what she’d been missing, founding Cubs of Wall Street to teach young people practical money skills through a uniquely youth-led approach.
This nonprofit found its focus in the belief that kids are never too young to start thinking about their financial futures. Siddhi develops curriculum, hosts free workshops in libraries and schools across Washington, authored a youth-focused financial literacy book, and recruits and trains chapter leaders nationwide. Her programming has reached 22,000+ youth and community members, with 250+ students and families taught personally, and has grown into a network spanning six states and an international chapter.
For Siddhi, the reward is watching understanding take hold, like the child who rushed out of a session begging his mom to stop at the bank to open an account. She sees young people not as too inexperienced to lead, but as the only ones who truly understand the challenges facing their generation… and therefore the right ones to solve them.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Siddhi? Find local volunteer opportunities.