On Friday, October 6, 2023 Sacred Heart Academy students welcomed Maura Cunningham, Founder and CEO of Rock the Street, Wall Street(RTSWS) and Tricia Daley, Director of Marketing and Member Development for Ocean Financial for a tour of campus and in-depth conversations about the importance of financial and investment literacy for young women who aspire to lead. This visit followed the second week of RTSWS classes for 200 SHA students, representing the largest cohort of Rock the Street, Wall Street participants in the program’s history. Championed by SHA Board Member, Liz Baulch Zullo ‘88 and coordinated by Mary Jo Hammill Clarke ‘79, the RTSWS initiative revitalizes girls’ enthusiasm for math and finance at a critical age and makes them aware of the societal benefits personal financial knowledge and math-oriented careers can have.
Ms. Cunningham is a big proponent of all-girls education, calling it one of the greatest gifts her parents ever gave her. Connecting SHA students with over 6,000 RTSWS alumnae around the world, in 62 schools and 30-plus cities, gives them the chance to grow and push themselves in ways they had not thought possible. “In the short time you spend in the program, you connect to a lifetime of relationships,” says Ms. Cunningham. Ms. Daley said that she was thrilled when the Chair of the Board of Ocean Financial, endorsed this partnership and generously underwrote the program for Sacred Heart Academy. Taught by SHA alumnae, and a parent of 2 alumnae working in the financial industry, teach the Rock The Street, Wall Street curriculum to the students this Fall. The second session is a mentorship component in the Spring of 2024.