Members of the Minnesota Vikings and Money Management International recently traveled to the Gila River Reservation and presented to parents, students and members of the Pima, Maricopa, Native American Community, located in Sacaton, Arizona on the importance of acquiring and developing sound financial education skills.
Sacaton School District Educators Brad Pico (Federal, State, NCLB Coordinator) and John Timmons (Director of Extended Education Community Relations) worked with MMI and the Minnesota Vikings, along with countless other Sacaton School District educators, employees, and community leaders in order to plan and organize this informative event that saw over 55 in attendance. The meeting was kicked off with an outstanding community dinner, followed by a financial education presentation on Understanding Money and Credit presented by Money Management International’s Director of Education, Maura Attardi with assistance from Educator Lori German. The presentation addressed ways to develop and maintain a realistic budget that balances day to day needs and long term goals, creating a plan to quickly and effectively pay down debt, how to use a budget to track income and expenses, and ways to avoid the destructive cycle of stress, distraction, and worry caused by financial setbacks.
In addition, community members had a unique opportunity to hear from Chicago Bear’s Defensive End, Jared Allen. Jared used this opportunity to share his personal experiences about the importance of financial literacy. He shared the importance of having a budget, and being responsible and accountable by sticking to that budget. Jared also emphasized the importance of surrounding oneself with good resources that will provide good financial advice and direction on a person’s journey to financial security.
“We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to share this information with the Gila River Indian Community and the Sacaton School District.” said Les Pico, Executive Director of Player Development with the Minnesota Vikings. “Having Jared reinforce MMI’s message that long-term financial success is not determined by the amount of income earned, rather is more about how that income is spent, has been an invaluable message to share with the community”.