Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 12, 2006 -- Joe Louis, a former professional boxer from Chicago, moved to Atlanta with a fighting spirit and the desire to build community awareness of the vicious cycle of teenage crime. In March, 2000, Mr. Louis founded Stepping Out for Christ Ministries for the purpose of creating apprenticeship training programs to not only satisfy the court ordered work release requirements, but to teach basic job skills such as proper attire, proper speaking and ethical issues common to all employment. SOFC has received endorsement from the DeKalb County Juvenile Justice System and the local support of the U.S. Department of Labor. Mr Louis has successfully trained more than 3,000 young people and is hoping to take this program throughout the country.

In 2005, Mr. Louis and L.A. Holloway, the Managing Partner for ICE, developed a banking program for participants as young as 14 years old. The program allows each person to enroll without fees. Each person is issued a payroll/bank card for participating in a direct deposit program, provided by ICE if the employer does not have the electronic transfer capability. The account fee is $4.95 per month and is FDIC insured with participating electronic networks such as VISA, STAR, HONOR and MAC.

Not only does the banking program reward them for their work ethic, but more important, it saves an estimated $75-$100 per month in check cashing fees.