ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With America's recession deepening, young people are in the worst financial trouble in more than a generation: New college graduates face the highest unemployment rate in 25 years, record student loan debt (and record defaults), prohibitively expensive health insurance costs and an average of $4,100 in credit card debt. The groundbreaking new program YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY empowers young adults to get their financial lives on track -- even if they barely have finances at all.

Hosted by Donald Faison ("Scrubs," "Clueless") and featuring insights from hip-hop icon Russell Simmons and R&B/pop singer D.Woods (Danity Kane), this engaging special provides vital, relatable information on everything from banking and credit to investments, budgeting, insurance and self-employment. With compelling real-life stories of young people finding their way through a variety of economic challenges, the program addresses an urgent demand for forthright financial advice in a pivotal stage of life. YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY airs Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET on PBS.

"I think it is important for all young adults to educate themselves on their finances," host Donald Faison says. "I am happy to be a part of something that brings attention to this subject for those just starting out."

YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY tells the stories of young people who are facing the many challenges that come with making, managing and getting the most from their money. Profiles include Min Lwin, a recent college graduate starting out in Chicago; Amanda McCormick, a Florida college senior facing $30,000 of credit card debt; Tim Bouchard, a freelance graphics and Web designer with his own business in Buffalo; and Maria Cortez and Rochelle James, striving to build their financial futures in New York City.

The program also features practical advice from personal finance experts, including New York Times best-selling author Beth Kobliner (Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties); young America's renowned financial coach Peter Bielagus; syndicated financial columnist Michelle Singletary (The Washington Post), and other nationally respected financial advisors.

YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY offers a broad outreach platform targeting young Americans in the early phases of their lives and careers - just when they need the most help navigating the financial pitfalls and opportunities around them. A major companion Web site featuring program content and additional resources and activities will be available at pbs.org/yourlifeyourmoney. This special is part of a two-hour economy-focused block of programming on PBS which also includes Sesame Workshop's FAMILIES STAND TOGETHER: FEELING SECURE IN TOUGH TIMES aimed at families coping with economic struggles hosted by Al Roker, Deborah Roberts and Elmo.

Funding for YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY was provided by HSBC in the Community (USA) Inc. Foundation. HSBC Bank USA, N.A., with more than 470 bank branches throughout the United States, including over 380 in New York State, focuses its charitable efforts on education and the environment.

YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY is produced for PBS by WNED Buffalo/Toronto and Working Dog Productions, Inc. (Executive producer: John Grant. Producer/director: Tom Simon. Editor: Dave Velazquez. Writers: Jaime Bernanke and Tom Simon. Host: Donald Faison. Format: CC Stereo Letterbox/HD where available.)

Interviews and screening DVDs of YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY are available upon request. Donald Faison interview at TCA Press Tour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX4Ic2sEvY4&feature=channel_page. For detailed press information, visit http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/your_life_your_money