Budget Buddies 2016 Concert Program

2016

Chelmsford Center for the Arts Friday, May 20th 2016 at 7:00 pm

An evening of music to benefit the Budget Buddies’ financial literacy program for low-income women.

Thanks to Our Sponsors!

Budget Buddies, Inc. 114 Turnpike Rd. | Chelmsford, MA 01824 978-703-0820 | www.budgetbuddies.org

Welcome to Play It Forward 2016!

Are you ready for the toe-tappin’, finger-snappin’, knee slappin’ sound of The Love Dogs? We are pleased to again present “Play it Forward: Making Music, Changing Lives.” This amazing concert, our third, was made possible with help from our devoted corporate sponsors, the musicians who generously share their talent tonight, the many dedicated volunteers who give so enthusiastically of their time – and you, our truly awesome supporters.

Last year’s concert helped us overhaul our entire curriculum, launch new programs with Head Start and Lazarus House in Lawrence and with housing authorities in Andover and Methuen. It also helped us find ways to train agencies in other communities to run their own programs. Funds from this year’s concert will support financial education for additional groups -- such as women veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and women recovering from addiction.

In addition to our highly committed coaches and other volunteers, we are grateful for the robust support from our host agencies and community partners such as University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Jericho Road Project, the Osterman Family Foundation, the Sirota Family Foundation, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, and First Parish in Concord.

Key corporate partners this year include, Digital Credit Union, Kronos Incorporated, Enterprise Bank, NetScout Systems, Northern Bank and Trust, Eastern Bank, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, and Salem 5 Bank.

Special thanks, as well, to Massachusetts Representative Thomas Golden, tonight’s emcee, his concert co-chair Enterprise Bank SVP Denise Marcaurelle, and Boston Women in Media and Entertainment.

In addition to enjoying the amazing Love Dogs, we hope you’ll stop by our Silent Auction in the downstairs café. Bids will be accepted through intermission. For a full list of auction items, see pages 11 to 13.

As we help more low-income women take control of their financial futures, we’ll continue to rely heavily on help from volunteers. If you, or someone you know is interested in learning more about our program, please call us at 978-703-0820.

Enjoy the Show!

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Thanks to This

Year’s Patrons!

Kate and Paul Blount Debbie and Richard Carter Chelmsford Rotary Kerry Dolan and Meg Watson Eastern Bank Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union Jenkins and Flemings Families Debbie Johnson MTC Mechanical and Electrical Co., Inc. David and Jean McLachlan Wingate Financial Advisors Budget Buddies, Inc. 114 Turnpike Rd. | Chelmsford, MA 01824 978-703-0820 | www.budgetbuddies.org

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Sindy & Kathy

How do you build a better financial future for your family on very little income? For Sindy, a recent Budget Buddies graduate, the first step was learning to save.

“I used to waste money because I didn’t know how to save,” she says. “I thought you had to save a lot. But now I know that even saving small amounts can make a difference.”

FAMILY FIRST Sindy, a 23-year-old mother of a two-year-old son, came to Budget Buddies knowing generally how to balance income and expenses, her coach, Kathy says. “But she had never made a budget that would show her exactly how much money was coming in and going out.” Sindy also did not have a bank account and had never seen her credit report.

Sindy arrived in the United States 10 years ago from the Dominican Republic, where most of her family still lives, and will soon become a U.S. citizen.

“I try to be strong every day, to help my son,” she says. Her other goals include sending money home to her mother and buying a house some day. To help meet those goals, she has enrolled in deaf studies at Northern Essex Community College.

“Signing is a beautiful language,” she says, “and there is a great need for translators.”

THINKING OUTSIDE THE SALON After working with Kathy in a Budget Buddies program sponsored by the YWCA of Greater Lawrence, which also provides her with transitional housing, Sindy has learned to make and follow a budget. Thanks to the hair dryer Kathy gave her, Sindy now does her own hair instead of spending up to $45 every two weeks in a beauty salon. Kathy also helped Sindy search for a bank with low fees and optimum interest rates where she can put her savings. In addition, “she helped me get a credit report for the first time so now I know what I have to work on,” Sindy says.

TWO LIVES SHARED Kathy, a resource management specialist in R&D with Pfizer, learned several lessons of her own.

“In addition to reinforcing many things I knew about personal finance, I learned some new things -- such as how to protect myself against fraud. I also learned to be more open minded and improve my listening skills,” Kathy says. “Everyone thinks they listen well, but I found I could better help Sindy by really hearing what her issues were.

“It was a great experience to feel like I was able to help someone,” Kathy adds.

Sindy notes that Kathy, whom she now considers a friend, was always there when she needed her. “It’s great that coaches can do this, without being paid, and share their ideas with us so we can have better lives,” she says.

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We support what matters to you.

Because you matter to us.

Eastern Bank is a proud sponsor of Budget Buddies.

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easternbank.com

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The YWCA of Greater Lawrence values our strong partnership with Budget Buddies... ...in our shared mission to help under-served women attain sustainable, economic independence as part of a healthy life.

Together our impact is strong!

YWCA of Greater Lawrence • 978.687.0331 • www.ywcalawrence.org

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Concert Program Introduction Emcee Rep. Thomas Golden

Remarks from Budget Buddies Executive Director Anita Saville Kathy Sweeney, Sindy Cruz Performance The Love Dogs Intermission Please visit our silent auction and wine bar in the cafĂŠ on the ground floor Live Auction Emcee Rep. Thomas Golden Performance The Love Dogs

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Proud Supportor

of Budget Buddies!

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HFHGL is proud to support Budget Buddies.

Working together we transform the lives of women through financial training and home ownership.

Thank you for all you do!

124 Main Street Westford, MA 01886 · 978.692.0927 www.lowellhabitat.org · twitter.com/lowellhabitat · facebook.com/lowellhabitat

House of Hope Inc. is proud to support the

Budget Buddies Program

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Silent Auction Items

Lunch for four people with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas -- in Washington, D.C., or Massachusetts Donated by Niki Tsongas. Estimated value - $Priceless

Four hours of professional home design consultation Donated by Suzanne L’Hussier. Estimated value - $500

A lesson in framing and materials

Donated by Picture Yourself Framing. Estimated value $300

Oil change and detailing

Donated by Boch Honda West. Estimated value - $235

Wardrobe consultation and spa treatment

Donated by fashion coach Susan Kanoff. Estimated value - $200

Wardrobe consultation

Donated by Onorina Maloney. Estimated value - $200

The Gift of Music basket

Donated by Jo Morse. Estimated value - $150

A Pie a Month – homemade pie for six months and autographed cookbook Donated by Eileen Kronauer. Estimated value - $125

Tea Basket with Princess Dianna commemorative teacup Donated by Jo Morse and Nancy Kaelin. Estimated value - $100

Handcrafted wooden jewelry box

Donated by David Kosewski. Estimated value - $100

Two tickets to any 2016 – 2017 orchestra of Indian Hill concert Donated by Indian Hill Music. Estimated value - $100

Cooperstown Fenway Park bat with wall mount Donated by Nancy Kaelin. Estimated value - $100

2016

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Proud Supporter of Budget Buddies!

   ---

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Silent Auction Items Three 11” x 17” signed prints

Donated by Steve Kinney, member of Zeitgeist Art Gallery in Lowell.

Estimated valued - $100 each

Chelmsford Farmer’s Market Basket

Donated by vendors of the Chelmsford Farmers Market. Estimated value - $100

Three Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies tickets for Tuesday May 24, 2016 Donated by Entegee, Inc. Estimated value - $90

Eight months of homemade soup once, each month from September 2016 through April 2017 Donated by Alice Claps. Estimated value - $80

Handmade knit baby sweaters

Donated by Jean McLachlan. Estimated value - $75 each

Wine and chocolate gift basket

Donated by Charlie and Joan Wojtas. Estimated value - $75 each

Handmade seed bead necklace

Donated by Two Stylish Sisters. Estimated value - $60

Four Lowell Spinners tickets

Donated by Enterprise Bank. Estimated value - $50

NASCAR 50th Anniversary Monopoly Game 1948 – 1998 Donated by Nancy Kaelin. Estimated value - $50

Handmade jewelry box using wood from the beloved purple beech tree on Chelmsford’s town common Donated by John Arthur. Estimated value - $45

2016

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The Love Dogs

Take one red-hot horn section – we’re talkin’ alto, tenor and baritone saxes – down and dirty. Add liberal amounts of barrelhouse boogie-woogie piano and stinging Fender guitar.

Pour over a funky and swinging rhythm section that Blues Review magazine called “the best in the business,” and top it all off with a crazy and charismatic front man with one of the biggest blues voices around. Season it with a few years on the road tearing up juke joints, festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada and on both sides of the Atlantic. Sound tasty? It’s a recipe for music and mayhem, for intensity and irreverence. It’s THE LOVE DOGS. Based out of Boston, The Love Dogs just celebrated its 22nd year wowing audiences and critics alike with a combination of great musicianship and pure fun. The Dogs combine elements of jump blues, New Orleans R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll into their own powerhouse sound.

“It’s important to us to have fun, and sometimes even we don’t know what we’re gonna do next.” says lead vocalist and songwriter Eddie Scheer. “We have a lot of humor in our music, and we love to surprise each other and make each other laugh.

When a crowd can see that, it becomes contagious. Pretty soon they’re giving us back as much energy as we’re putting out, and the whole thing keeps escalating. We call it the ‘tribal love vibe’.”

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Featuring some of the Northeast’s best players, it’s impossible not to notice the high level of musicianship in this band. “We’re all lifetime fans of blues, jazz, and R&B, and we all have a real reverence for the music. Part of what makes this band special is that we really play together as a unit, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” FMQB magazine called The Love Dogs’ concerts “the stuff of legend” where “soulful vocals, killer grooves, spontaneity and pure entertainment play equal parts.”

Although he’s the ringleader, Eddie is quick to give credit to each member for playing an integral part in the band’s sound. “My favorite thing about the Dogs,” says Ed, “is that everyone in the band has their own show, and the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. That’s what really makes this band work.”

Voted “Best New England Band” by Blues Audience magazine, the Dogs are part Rat Pack party, part 20th century musical encyclopedia, and part revival meeting. The New York Post says: “Even though the music could make Leonardo’s David dance, it’s the songwriting that separates these dogs from the rest of the pack.” And Blues Review agrees: “If there were a Super Bowl for crowd pleasing rhythm & blues, a photo of The Love Dogs would be on every Wheaties box in America.” Scheer sums it up by saying: “If this band doesn’t put a smile on your face, check your pulse because you might just be dead.”

Learn more about The Love Dogs at www.thelovedogs.com.

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The Love Dogs Eddie “Duato” Sheer

Lead Vocals / Percussion

Alpha Dog and front man, Eddie “Duato” Sheer has been playing music his whole life. By age 14 he was singing and playing drums professionally, and in his 20’s became one of the busiest drummers in Boston.

In the early 90’s he was fortunate enough to tour with legendary New Orleans singer Johnny Adams, and got his first exposure to the crescent city. This experience would prove to be a huge influence on Eddie’s musical future. By 1994 he was writing lots of jump blues and New Orleans R&B styled songs, and encouraged by the fertile Boston blues scene, he formed The Love Dogs.

Alizon Lissance

Piano, Accordion, Vocals

Ali has toured the world in various bands and won numerous awards, including a Boston Music Award for “Outstanding Keyboards.” Not only a dazzling pianist, she is featured on vocals at every Dogs’ show, and performs many of her own songs with the band. The Love Dogs music brings about a spirit of improvisation and high energy that really encourages Alizon to howl at the moon!

Myanna Pontoppidan

Alto & Tenor Saxes, & Vocals

Myanna attended Berklee and the University of Massachusetts where she studied under Jazz great Max Roach. Her own band “Myanna” won the coveted Boston Phoenix/WFNZ Best Music Poll, in 1994 and 1996, in the “Best Local Jazz Act” category.

In addition, the group was named “Outstanding Local Jazz Act” at the prestigious Boston Music Awards in 1992. Myanna joined the Dogs just after the band was formed in 1994. She leads the horn section and brings tremendous energy and personality to the band.

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The Love Dogs Glenn Shambroom

Guitar & Baritone Sax

Keep an eye on Glenn! With all the different instruments he has in his corner, you never know what sound he is going to produce next! Glenn started out on guitar, barking out country music, culminating in a stint as lead guitarist for John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Boys from 1979 to 1983. After mastering the guitar, Glenn decided it was time to learn something new… so he picked up the saxophone!

Steve Brown

Drums & Vocals

Drummer Steve Brown has been playin’ the blues with Boston’s best since 1975, when he started with the legendary band Powerhouse. He provided the back beat for Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, backing up many blues greats. Well known for his encyclopedic knowledge of soul and blues idioms, Steve was the drummer behind Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson and the Susan Tedeschi Bank in 1993 and 1994, respectively, as each band represented Boston at the National Blues Competition in Memphis, TN.

Mark Poniatowski Guest Bassist

Mark holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee and a Master of Music from New England Conservatory. His performances throughout the US and Europe include the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, Orange County Blues Festival, California, The River Festival in Wichita, Kansas, The Natt Jazz Festival in Burgin, Norway, and at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria. Mark is currently an Associate Professor in the Contemporary Writing and Production department at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

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C.H.O.I.C.E. and the Chelmsford Housing Authority congratulates Budget Buddies for the contributions they have made in helping low income women in the Merrimack Valley with their Financial Literacy Program.

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Proud Supportevr of

Budget Buddies Since 2010

2016 BOSTON MAGAZINE FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW Mary Jo Metro CFP®, CDFA™, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS®, MBA 17 North Road Chelmsford, MA 01824

978-710-5401

MaryJo.METRO@RaymondJames.com www.METROFinancialStrategies.com With 30 years of experience, Mary Jo specializes in all aspects of financial planning and investment management to help families prosper from one generation to the next. She demonstrates commitment to her clients along this journey through exceptional service and professional integrity.

2013 – 2016 Five Star Wealth Manager.

Securities offered through !

Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC

Award selection for nominated wealth managers are based on satisfying the following criteria: credentialed as an investment advisory representative, a FINRA-registered representative, a CPA or a licensed attorney, actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years, favorable regulatory and complaint history review, fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards, and accepting new clients. Other criteria considered are one and five-year client retention rate, non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered, number of client households served and education and professional designations. This award is bestowed by an independent third party organization not affiliated with Raymond James.

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Enterprise Bank is proud to support

Play It Forward: Making Music, Changing Lives An Evening of Music to Benefit the Budget Buddies Financial Literacy Program for Low-Income Women

Supporting Budget Buddies is an easy decision for us at Enterprise Bank. Through your one-on-one coaching and workshops, you provide women with the skills and self-esteem needed to reach their financial goals.

We applaud your dedication to the women in our community.

877-671-2265

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EnterpriseBanking.com

Thinking about buying a house?

DO IT RIGHT. Project Genesis

Home Buyer Training Program Learn about: n The Home Buying Process n Mortagages n Legal Aspects n Home Inspections n Household Budgeting n Responsible Home Ownership n Down Payment Assistance Programs Seminars available in English, Spanish & Khmer.

To register: Visit www.mvhp.org or call 978-459-8490 Thank you.

Celebrating

30 Years

Is a proud sponsor of the

Play It Forward 2016 Benefit Concert

Your dedication towards promoting financial education amongst low-income women has enabled several of our Family SelfSufficiency Program participants and Public Housing residents to develop a sense of economic empowerment.

True success is not measured solely by your accomplishments but rather by the inspiration which you instill in others.

Wishing you the best as you continue your efforts to transform the lives of low-income women across the Merrimack Valley, Dr. Gary K. Wallace

We empower women to lead extraordinary lives!

Leading, Inspiring, Mentoring Women www.FamilyofWomen.org

Our Mission Statement “We lead, inspire and mentor women to embrace their power, purpose and value and to take responsibility for their relationships. We empower women to live the lives they love, igniting their passion to make a positive contribution in the world.”

Join us for a meeting to see what we are about!

We meet in various locations in eastern MA and southern NH

For more information contact Louise McCarthy, 603-475-3509, louise03079@gmail.com or Donna White, 508-842-3279, DonnaMcWhite@aol.com

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About Budget Buddies HELPING WOMEN HELP THEMSELVES

What if every woman living in poverty could build the skills and confidence to find a way out? Budget Buddies provides the financial knowledge and personalized support to make that happen.

WHY WE FOCUS ON WOMEN Women, especially women of color, are particularly vulnerable to poverty: • Women still earn much less than men do, • They are much more likely to work part time, and • They are more likely to take time away from work to care for their families Already at risk, women who do not have proper role models or financial education and then experience a variety of personal challenges can find themselves trapped and overwhelmed by money issues. Today, more than one in seven women lives in poverty.

A large portion of these women are single mothers.

These are the women we serve.

Many of those who enter our program have spent most of their lives in foster care or homeless shelters. They’ve never learned to make a budget. They’re often overwhelmed with debt, make poor spending decisions, and have little or no money in savings. But we know that they can overcome these hurdles with our help.

WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM UNIQUE Budget Buddies envisions a world in which all women can control their financial futures. We help women help themselves through a unique and robust program of financial education. We partner with homeless shelters and other social service agencies to deliver six months of skill-building workshops. These workshops are taught by volunteers from banks, other local businesses, and community organizations.

By working through agencies we can create customized programs for groups of women who face similar financial hardships and can mutually support one another. Partnering with agencies also makes it easier to keep our “buddies” engaged throughout the program.

But what makes our model truly innovative and highly successful is the personal volunteer coach we give to each participant. The coach and her buddy attend workshops together and then meet one-to-one between the workshops to address the buddy’s particular financial issues.

Through this experience, the buddy improves her money-management skills, learns new behaviors, and gains the confidence she need to manage her finances effectively. She also gains greater stability for herself and her family. This stability, in turn, strengthens the community in which she lives.

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About Budget Buddies We’ve been amazed at the changes we see in our buddies. By graduation they are more likely to save money, more likely to pay their bills on time, and more likely to use a budget. Most importantly 71% of our buddies feel confident about managing money at graduation, versus 21% when the program began. And we know that confidence is a key predictor of improved skills and behavior.

EXPANDING OUR REACH In six years we’ve changed the lives of many women in our home base of Lowell and Lawrence.

• Tina, helped by her coach, Liz, resolved a long-standing debt with the IRS • Wendy paid bills that had sat, unopened, in a drawer for months • Jackie opened her first savings account • Nadine bought her first house through Habitat for Humanity • Musu enrolled in a program for early childhood education at a local community college

Successes like these have greatly increased the demand for our program. We plan to meet this demand in two ways.

First, we will soon launch a new Budget Buddies Affiliate Network that will help us quickly and cost-effectively expand the reach of our organization. Through this project we will train community agencies to run their own financial education programs based on our model. After a pilot this year, we plan to add 10 affiliates by 2018 and 20 affiliates by 2020.

In addition to building our affiliates, we expect to increase the number of programs we run in Lowell and Lawrence from 8 this year to 12 by 2018. Overall, this means we will triple the number of women we serve in the next 2 years, reach new communities, and offer programs in more languages.

We’ve already served nearly 400 women like Tina, Wendy, Jackie, Nadine, and Musu.

With your support, we can give many more women the chance to control their finances and control their lives.

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Last December the Women’s Growth Network (WGN), sponsored by Westford-based Tyco Security Products, invited Budget Buddies to share its space at the Massachusetts Conference for Women – and a lasting partnership was born.

AJG Design & Photography Imagination at Work

Proud to be able to support

Budget Buddies and their Mission

2014 - 2016 Play it Forward Program Designer • • • •

Graphic Design Web Design Brand Development Marketing Consultant

• Event Photography • Sport Photography • Wedding Photography

www.amyjgrigg.com I Lowell, MA I amyjgrigg@gmail.com

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Many thanks to those who

generously donated to our reception Bianco’s Catering

130 Middlesex Road - Tyngsboro www.biancocatering.com

Carven Catering

61 Central Square - Chelmsford www.carvencateringservices.com

Above the Clouds Custom Catering Serving the greater Boston area www.above-clouds.com

Whisk Baked Goods

Whisk On Wheels - Chelmsford Facebook @ Whisk Baked Goods

Hannaford Supermarket

66 Drum Hill Road - Chelmsford www.hannaford.com

Cask & Bottle

313 Littleton Road - Chelmsford www.thecaskandbottle.com

Harrington Wine & Liquors

10 Summer Street - Chelmsford www.harringtonwineandliquors.com

Drum Hill Liquors

83 Parkhurst Road - Chelmsford www.drumhillliquors.com

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HOPE YOU HAD A

GREAT TIME TONIGHT! THANKS FOR COMING.

BUDGET BUDDIES STAFF Anita Saville, Executive Director Kathy Brough, Director of Operations Julie Lemire, Coaching Coordinator Katie Neville, Volunteer Coordinator and Business Manager Katie Stoll, Program Coordinator Chrisanne Douglas, Affiliate Coordinator Patricia Greiff, Spanish Program Coordinator Margaret Murray-Stewart, Grants Coordinator Nada Cristian, Spanish Coaching Coordinator PROGRAM LEADERS AND PRESENTERS Susan Graves, Program Leader Jayne Mattson, Presenter Judy McCullough, Presenter and Program Leader Liz Gustin, Presenter and Program Leader Linda Ridlon, Program Leader Cathy Jenkins, Presenter Terry Jounakos, Presenter Lisa Whittemore, Program Leader Darlene Hagan, Program Leader Mercedes Johnson, Program Leader Jasmin Ramos-Madonna, Presenter Charleen Negron, Presenter Mayte Ramos, Presenter Maria Clara Gutierrez, Presenter

Special thanks to the Financial Education Staff at the Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union and Family of Women for their help with our presentations.

If you’d like to volunteer for Budget Buddies or want more information, please call us at 978-703-0820 or visit our website (www.budgetbuddies.org)