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ASU to host financial literacy championship; match scholarship dollars to winners


April 17, 2013

Financial literacy organization Pay Your Family First (PYFF), in partnership with the Choices Educational Empowerment program, will hold the second annual ThriveTime Challenge’s state championship at Arizona State University's West campus from 1 to 6 p.m., April 20.

The challenge is a statewide financial literacy initiative providing opportunities for high school students to learn important concepts related to managing money and time as well as the importance of charity and overall positive decision-making in a fun and innovative manner.

The event will be held at ASU’s brand new Sun Devil Fitness Complex, and emceed by KTAR’s & AZTV’s popular personality, Pat McMahon, with appearances by local celebrities and guests. The event includes a community fair with entertainment, games-prize drawings and scholarships will be awarded to winners.

During the championship, participants will compete in a three-round, single-elimination tournament of the board game created by PYFF, 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 five to six 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 first place winner will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the ThriveTime Challenge program with second and third place each receiving $2,500. As the tournament sponsor, ASU will be matching all three scholarships as well. 

According to Lechter, everyone who attends is a winner. Many participating high school from qualifying events received cash prizes; the students who win scholarships at the state tournament will also win $1,000 donations for their schools.

"We are excited to be hosting the ThriveTime Challenge at our ASU West campus this year,” said Beatriz Rendon, associate vice president of Education Outreach and Student Services at ASU. “Teaching students about financial literacy through this competition is a great way for students to learn money management skills and important college savings’ strategies.”

PYFF’s CEO and acclaimed author, Sharon Lechter, is on a mission to promote financial education.

"Now in our second year, the growth of the ThriveTime Challenge has been incredible," Lechter said. "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. Business and community leaders as well as educators have stepped up to the plate to support financial education for Arizona teens."

Acclaimed actor and activis Tank Jones, from Choices Educational Empowerment, 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," Jones said. "We’ve met some exceptional kids and great staff. I look forward to seeing who's going to take the scholarship."

Doug Ducey, Arizona state treasurer, applauds this initiative and for the second year in a row is expected to attend the state tournament this April.

“The ThriveTime Challenge is a fun and educational way to equip students to make more informed decisions about their personal finances,” Ducey said. “Starting early is key; a little bit of knowledge can go a long way to protecting your financial future.”

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, visit thrivetimechallenge.com.