I recently saw a report on your program on Tampa Bay News Channel 8. As a former college student who found myself in $10,000 in debt I think that your program is phenomenal. I wish that I had been exposed to the traps of credit cards before having to learn the hard way. Unfortunately this debt caused me to drop out of school and almost 5 years later I am just barely returning to school. I am glad to see that you have also formed a group that involves Fraternities & Sororities. As a member of a sorority myself I know what a great forum that provides for information on topics such as this. I was also surprised to see after viewing your website that you have visited my old campus.
I really just wanted to send an email letting you know what a wonderful organization you have created. These are the fundamentals that our high school and college students need to learn!!! Great job!
Sincerely,
Felina
"I believe what Judge Ninfo is doing is a great thing and that he is genuinely concerned with the futures of the students he meets."
Loren Peterson
11th grade business student at Hornell High School (New York)
"I think Judge Ninfo really opened up everybody's eyes to the reality of credit. It seems like what we thought we knew about credit going into the presentation was all misleading information that we just got from ads and the Internet. I think he influenced everyone's future decisions about credit."
Allison Crowley
12th grade student at Hornell High School (New York)
"I wish I had access to the information when I was in high school. After the presentation, I paid off two credit cards and cancelled three others. Now if I don't have money to pay cash for an item, I don't buy it."
Shelly Palmer
Monroe Community College
After a CARE Program presentation, students at Nazareth College of Rochester were asked to provide their Freshman Seminar Professor, Michael McGwin, Associate Director of Admissions, with a journal entry as to how they would get through four years of college without going broke. Some of the excerpts from their entries include:
- Not eating out too much, and using the dining hall more often
- Not partying too much
- Working on campus and at home on breaks
- Keeping grades up so I can maintain scholarships
- Take advantage of school sponsored entertainment
- Plan ahead for future expenses
- Buying used books instead of new
Usually, judges only get involved with social problems after the problems have turned into disasters. One of the many wonderful aspects of the innovative program developed by Judge Ninfo is that it allows judges to become part of the solution by helping young persons learn to manage debt before they are in over their heads. That’s why we are enthusiastically attempting to implement the program throughout the Second Circuit.
Jed S. Rakoff
U.S. District Judge
Southern District of New York
Chairperson - Second Circuit Bankruptcy Committee
Member - Judicial Conference of the United States,
Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System
Judge John Ninfo’s C.A.R.E. Program hits the nail on the head! Instead of waiting until the financial damage has been done - he attacks the cause of credit card abuse. He focuses on today’s young people and through the use of testimonials and a college student produced film, he effectively delivers his message of avoiding unnecessary (“Needs v. Wants”) credit card debt and its damaging consequences.
John J. Hargrove
Chief Judge
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Southern District of California
We are excited to announce that attorneys of the Hartford County Bar Association and the New Haven County Bar Association are working together with Chief Bankruptcy Judge Albert S. Dabrowski, and with the support of U.S. District of Connecticut Bankruptcy Judges Krechevsky, Shiff and Weil, to sponsor, develop and present a credit education program for Connecticut high school students that will be modeled after the C.A.R.E. Program. We have been encouraged by our initial contacts with education leaders in our communities. All agree that there is a great need for this type of education program for young people in Connecticut before they leave home for college or enter the work force. We are on our way to having a pilot program in place which will form the basis of what we hope can become a statewide public service initiative of the bench and bar working together.
Your wonderful C.A.R.E. program track record, course materials and web site have made our task so much easier. We are extremely grateful for your bold and enthusiastic leadership. Thank you. We look forward to following in your footsteps.
Alan Robert Baker, Co-Chair
James J. Tancredi, Co-Chair
Commercial Law Committee
Hartford County Bar Association
Attorney Douglas S. Skalka, Chairman
Attorney Carol Felicetta, Member
Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Committee
New Haven County Bar Association
The fact that there has been a 96% increase in bankruptcy filings in the age group 25 years or less during the past 10 years demonstrates that there is a tremendous and immediate need to improve the financial literacy of students. I believe that providing students with credit abuse resistance education is the most valuable contribution that Bankruptcy Judges, Court and Clerk’s Office staff, and attorneys can offer to the parents and students in their communities. Each time that I make a CARE presentation, I am left with a tremendous sense of satisfaction because I know that I have made a positive, personal, and meaningful impact on the students, and I would encourage anyone working in the Bankruptcy System to participate in a CARE Program in your community. Take the time to CARE. You will be glad that you did.
Paul R. Warren, Esq.
Clerk of Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Western District of New York
The CARE Program's presentation is long PAST DUE! College students both want and need this information the day they step on campus. The information is presented in the schools in a candid and interactive forum which allows for students to feel comfortable asking questions and discussing their personal credit information.
Dan Raimondo, Phd.
Director of Campus Life
SUNY Brockport