Tag Archives: Pay Your Family First

Pay Your Family First and Choices Education Empowerment Holds ThriveTime Challenge’s State Championship at Grand Canyon University

Pay Your Family First (PYFF), in partnership with Choices Educational Empowerment, will hold the ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge’s state championship at Grand Canyon University on April 17th from 4 pm – 8 pm.

Paradise Valley/Phoenix, AZ, March 27, 2012 – Pay Your Family First(PYFF), in partnership with Choices Educational Empowerment, will hold the ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge’s state championship at Grand Canyon University on April 17th from 4 pm – 8 pm.

The event will be held at the private college’s basketball arena, emceed by KTAR’s & AZTV’s popular personality, Pat McMahon. State Treasurer Doug Ducey will be participating in this event that will include free community activities, live entertainment and raffles for the public.

Arizona teens that qualified during their local high school’s Thrive Time Scholarship Challenge will compete for cash scholarships and the chance to play at the regional and national competitions. Members of the Arizona Society of CPAs provided volunteer support at school events and will participate at the state competition. Additional volunteer support has been provided by Phoenix Philanthropists, with sponsorship support provided by local businesses and community leaders.

PYFF’s CEO and acclaimed author, Sharon Lechter, is on a mission to promote financial education. “The entire ThriveTime Challenge has far exceeded my hopes and dreams.  We set out to create community collaboration between the corporate, personal and private sectors to address a pressing need for financial literacy education for children. We’ve been thrilled at the reception from students, teachers and administration.  And when we gave each student their own ThriveTime game at the end of the competitions – you’d think they’d just won the lottery!”

Choices Educational Empowerment’s Tank Jones, acclaimed actor and activist, has seen the benefits of the game. “Collaborating with Pay Your Family First to bring the ThriveTime Challenge to local schools has been fun and rewarding. We’ve met some exceptional kids and great staff. I look forward to seeing who’s going to take the scholarship!”

ThriveTime Challenge

During the championship, participants will compete in a three round, single elimination tournament of the board game created by Lechter, ThriveTime for Teens. The board game was developed as a teaching tool to instill money management skills to youth and families. Students will play in tables of 5-6 students. The first player to “Thrive,” or win, at each table will advance to the second round; then, those winners will proceed to the final championship round.

The 1st place winner will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship from Pay Your Family First, plus a second $5,000 scholarship matched by Grand Canyon University. The 2nd and 3rd place winners both receive a $2,500 scholarship provided by private donors. According to Lechter, everyone who attends is a winner. Each participating high school from qualifying events received cash prizes; the school with the most spectators in tow receives the School Spirit Award, and each entering participant receives a goody-bag with various prizes.

“Grand Canyon University is proud to host the Thrive Time Challenge State Championship,” said Grand Canyon University’s dean of the College of Education, Kimberly LaPrade. “Learning to manage personal finances is vital for young people as they go out into the world on their own. The Challenge is teaching students these practical skills in a fun and exciting way.”

Arizona high schools interested in hosting a ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge, or organizations interested in empowering the next generation of superstars by sponsoring the events, should contact Angela Totman at Pay Your Family First: angela@pyff.net.

For information regarding the ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge, please visit: www.thrivetimechallenge.com.

Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284 USA
480-206-3435
scott@blackdogpromotions.com
http://www.blackdogpromotions.com

Pay Your Family First and Choices Educational Empowerment team up to launch ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge across Arizona High Schools

Best selling author Sharon Lechter’s financial literacy organization, Pay Your Family First, has joined forces with the non-profit group, Choices Educational Empowerment to launch the first ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge at Estrella High School in Avondale on January 18, 2012.

Paradise Valley/Phoenix, AZ, January 03, 2012 – Best selling author Sharon Lechter’s financial literacy organization, Pay Your Family First, has joined forces with the non-profit group, Choices Educational Empowerment to launch the first ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge at Estrella High School in Avondale on January 18, 2012. Schools across Arizona will participate in the initiative through April 2012 and students will be eligible for regional and state level competitions. The student organization, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) is holding competitions at their regional and state conferences between January and April for advancement as well.

The challenge invites high school students to compete in game play of Lechter’s award winning board game, ThriveTime for Teens. Developed by Lechter as a tool for teaching money management to youth and families, the game requires participants to navigate real-life scenarios related to earning, saving, investing, spending, and giving. Top winners from all competitions will earn scholarships or cash prizes and move on to the state competition in April of 2012, coinciding with Financial Literacy Month.

A struggling economy and budget cuts at the national and local level have left schools struggling to maintain high quality education, with many families questioning how to finance college expenses. Compounding the issue, studies show that many youth demonstrate a very poor understanding of money and finances. The challenge promotes Lechter’s mission to empower schools, families and youth to embrace financial literacy.

“Managing money is a life skill – and as parents, grandparents and interested adults – it’s up to us to equip our children for the financial world they are going to face. Our ThriveTime Challenge will teach critical, practical skills while awarding scholarships and prizes for well deserving students and their schools,” said Lechter.

Arizona State Treasurer, Doug Ducey applauds this initiative and is expected to appear at the state competition, where students will compete for cash awards ranging from $2500 to $5000, plus chances to earn spots at the regional and state competitions. There is no cost to participating schools, and each one receives a $250 donation from Pay Your Family First in addition to classroom resources that will be used to ensure the sustainability of the program. Every student participating in the competition will receive a take home copy of the ThriveTime for Teens game to share will family and peers.
 
Members of the Arizona State Society of CPA’s will provide volunteers to facilitate the competitions. Arizona schools interested in hosting a ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge, or organizations interested in supporting the events should contact Angela Totman at Pay Your Family First: angela@pyff.net or visit www.thrivetimechallenge.com

About Sharon Lechter and Pay Your Family First:
Sharon Lechter is the co-author of the national bestseller Three Feet From Gold, international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 books in the internationally acclaimed Rich Dad series. Lechter recently annotated the never before published, Outwitting The Devil by legendary business and self-help author Napoleon Hill.
 
Pay Your Family First, founded by Lechter, empowers kids and their families with the confidence to tackle the complexities of fiscal responsibility while building stronger communities and a more secure future. PYFF uses a number of tools to fulfill the mission including the board game, ThriveTime For Teens, winner of a Mom’s Choice Award™ 2011.
 
Visit sharonlechter.com to learn more about Sharon Lechter, ThriveTime For Teens and Outwitting The Devil.
 
About Choices Educational Empowerment:
Choices Education Empowerment Program, a 501 (c) 3 organization was launched in 2005 to equip youth with creative coping skills to their challenges, such as peer pressure and bullying. Promoting a message of positive thinking and self-esteem, actor and activist Tank Jones has made personal appearances in middle and high school assemblies across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Illinois.  More than 40 schools and 5,000 students attended the Choices Grand Assembly at Jobing.com Arena, along with guest speakers Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix Suns) and Sharon Lechter (New York Times best selling author). Empowering youth to embrace his signature “U-KAN!” message, Jones encourages children to practice work ethic, integrity and positive thinking as a path to school success and personal achievement.
 
Visit http://www.ItsYourChoices.org to learn more about Choices or to schedule a rally at your school. 
 
Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-206-3435
scott@blackdogpromotions.com
http://www.ItsYourChoices.org