By Jason Alderman

For many teens, there's nothing more exciting than receiving the first paycheck from a summer job - a sure-fire ticket to fun and freedom. It's also a great opportunity for parents to encourage proper money management.

Parents or guardians need to do some necessary paperwork first. Working teens will need his or her own Social Security Number (SSN) to legally apply for a job. They will also need a SSN to open a bank account to deposit their paychecks. Depending on state law, children under 18 may have to open bank accounts in their custodial name with their parents or guardians. It is also important for parents to check in with qualified tax or financial advisors about their teen's earned income, particularly if it may affect any investments under the child's name.

After that, it's about encouraging teens to get a jump on their job search. The recent job market for American teens has been tough and investigating particular kinds of openings should start months in advance of summer hire. Networking is also important - teens can reach out to friends, neighbors and other trusted adults about potential jobs in the community. Also, it is never too early for teens to learn resume writing and job interviewing skills. The Practical Money Skills website's Landing a Job (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/personalfinance/lifeevents/work/landingjob.php) page offers useful background to help teens get started.

Parents can also assist by monitoring job categories their kids are interested in, encouraging them to meet application deadlines and being aware of federal, state and local child labor laws (http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/know-the-limits/index.htm) to steer them from unscrupulous employers.

Technology changes quickly, so tech-savvy teens may be ahead of the game when it comes to searching for work online. Leading job search engines are a destination for seasonal job openings, and many allow users to customize searches for specific positions and employers. However, teens may need to be reminded about their social media activity before they begin any job search - anything a teen posts publicly on the Internet may be seen by a potential employer.

Banking is another major step in the life of the working teen, though they don't need to wait for that first job to get started.

Many parents open bank accounts for their children as early as their first allowance - after all, digital banking makes it easier to monitor and transfer money without a trip to the branch or ATM. Paychecks - on paper or via digital deposit - make familiarity with the banking system an even greater necessity. Check with their bank to see what types of accounts are offered for children and teens - some banks offer a wide variety of custodial accounts where parents can track and assist their child's spending and saving activity.

A teen's first job is a great opportunity to introduce budgeting, saving and long-term investment skills. Your child may be working over the summer to save for a particular desired item - a cellphone or a trip - or more extensive goals like future college expenses. The Practical Money Skills site offers a budgeting tutorial (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/personalfinance/savingspending/budgeting/) and budgeting calculators (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators/budgetGoals.php?calcCategory=budget) for a range of purposes.

When the job offer comes, there's one more thing parents can do. Getting hired means a flurry of paperwork that can be confusing; parents can help their children review those documents before signature. Most will apply to tax withholding, but such documents might also include special workplace agreements that might not always be clear to young workers. When that first paycheck arrives, consider sitting down to inspect a teen's first paper or electronic pay stub. Many people don't understand their withholding even as adults, so children can benefit greatly from this lesson at the start of their working lives.

Bottom line: A teen's first summer job is a great way for parents and children to collaborate on job-hunting and money management skills that will produce benefits for a lifetime.

MOLINE, Ill. (March 14, 2015) - The Quad City Mallards tonight teamed with the Genesis Health Services Foundation and KWQC TV6 to raise $17,700 for the Genesis Family Connects program through a game-worn jersey auction after the Mallards' game against the Wichita Thunder at the iWireless Center.    

The special edition fan-designed jerseys worn by the Mallards tonight in their 3-1 win over the Thunder went up for bid in a live auction immediately following the contest.  The jersey of Mallards forward Kevin Baker went for the evening's high bid of $1,100.  

Over the last 20 years, Mallards jersey auctions have raised over $800,000 to benefit Genesis Health System charities.  Tonight's auction is the second of two the Mallards have held this season to raise a total of nearly $37,000 for Genesis Health System charities.  After the Mallards'January 31 meeting with the Brampton Beast, bidding on game-worn "old school" jerseys raised $19,275 for the Genesis Flu-Free QC program.

Genesis Family Connects ensures that within the first 3 weeks of babies leaving the hospital, specially trained Genesis Visiting Nurses will provide in-home health assessments of mothers and newborns, as well as discuss the social conditions affecting the family. Family Connects is open to all families regardless of income, status or number of children in the home.

 

The sweaters worn this evening by the Mallards were designed by Australian Heath Morrison, the winner of the team's fan jersey design contest.  Tonight's auction was conducted by Stenzel Auction Service, a family owned business that has been providing auction and appraisal services for over 50 years.  More information on Stenzel Auction Service and be found at www.stenzelauction.com.

Tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including tomorrow's contest- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The box office is open weekdays from10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.  Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28. 

About Genesis Health System

Genesis Health System, its affiliates and partners offer a full continuum of health care services.  Genesis Health System's affiliates include : acute and tertiary hospital care at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport and DeWitt, Iowa and Genesis Medical Center, Silvis and Aledo in Illinois; home health and hospice services through Genesis VNA and Hospice; Genesis Workplace Services, including occupational health, employee assistance and wellness services for employers and their employees; the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House; senior living facilities offering rehabilitation and long-term care; Genesis Health Group, with more than 170 primary care physicians and specialists; a Family Practice Residency program; Genesis Psychology Associates; three Convenient Care clinics; and Genesis Home Medical Equipment.  Partners include the Genesis Medical Park, Crow Valley, Genesis Imaging Centers and Spring Street Surgical Center, Davenport. Genesis Health System serves a 10-county area of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.  Genesis also manages Jackson County Regional Health Center in Maquoketa, Iowa. For more information, visit www.genesishealth.com.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their eighteenth season and their first in the ECHL.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007; in the International Hockey League in 2009-10; and in the Central Hockey League from 2010 through 2014.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/qcmallards.

–## Quad City Mallards ##–

Following WWII, the Abstract Expressionism's movement spread internationally from New York. Artists, like Quad City's Gene Brack, have taken inspiration from this American movement and applied it to their body of work. "I love the rich texture of oil paints. There is something sculptural about the way they adhere to the canvas. The vivid and rich colors give me a variety of choices as I manipulate them into compositions that are, at times, geometric and, at other times, subtle and restful," said Brack recently in an interview.

Coming from a theatrical background as a set designer, Brack captures his dramatic effects best in harsh diagonal lines and almost comedic curving lines. There is drama in the clash of design elements; lines and color create a rich contrast that tips the balance of the composition and frees one's imagination.

Along with Brack's southern roots in central Florida, faith, education, and service in the US Air Force have affected Brack's journey. His use of color and texture open a viewer's eyes to this innovative work.

It is Atom Studio + Gallery's privilege to welcome Gene Brack as one of our own. We cordially invite you to the opening of his show, Variations: Conflicting Harmonies, which will be sure to enchant the public. A reception in his honor will be held March 27^th from 6 to 9 p.m. The show will continue through April 19^th, and affter the 19^th, a selection of Brack's work will be included in the gallery, which is located at 225 E. 2^nd Street, downtown Davenport.

Atom Studio + Gallery has a full selection of summer courses and classes available for all ages and abilities. Please contact the gallery at atomstudiogallery@gmail.com or Pat Bereskin at 563-508-4630 for further information.