The Challenge is a national program that offers middle school students the opportunity to learn about smart educational and financial choices in an exciting interactive seminar held in collaboration with select NBA teams, followed up by Junior Achievement curriculum in their classrooms during the school year. <\/p>\n
The goal of the program is to empower and challenge young leaders to take positive steps toward a successful career and financial security for themselves, their families and their communities.\u00a0 The company is committing nearly $2 million to MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge in 2015. <\/p>\n
“Every day at MassMutual we strive to help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. Through MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge we’re helping young people learn smart money management skills now to be financially better off in the future,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, Vice President, Community Responsibility, MassMutual. “We are very excited to be able to visit more cities this year and provide additional students with important financial education.”<\/p>\n
This year MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge kicks off in Houston, TX on Jan. 8, 2015.<\/p>\n
MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge is hosted by award-winning actor and New York Times<\/i> best-selling author Hill Harper. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Harper, a firm believer in the transformative power of education, graduating magna cum laude from Brown University and earning a J.D. and Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, strives to engage participating middle school students in fun, interactive educational modules designed to spark interest and provide tangible, memorable financial knowledge. At each event, students will learn:<\/p>\n
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- What it costs to survive, live and thrive <\/li>\n
- The impact of education and career on income <\/li>\n
- What you spend your money on matters, highlighting the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ <\/li>\n
- How you pay for things matters, highlighting the costs of consumer debt <\/li>\n
- The importance of saving and the power of time, highlighting the concept of compound interest<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
“Financial education is a personal mission of mine, and I’m excited to continue to bring this dynamic program from MassMutual to middle school students across the country,” said Harper. “The impact that education can have\u00a0 on your future is exponential, and we aim to motivate students to start thinking about this so they are better prepared to achieve wealth in every aspect of their lives.”<\/p>\n
At each event, NBA team representatives will share their thoughts on education, careers and finances.\u00a0 The teams will also provide entertainment that may include dunk teams, cheerleaders, dance teams, and mascots. <\/p>\n
In addition, Junior Achievement classroom curriculum led by local MassMutual representatives and Junior Achievement affiliate volunteers will follow each of MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge events at a later date in each community, as well as the opportunity for income-eligible families to apply for coverage through MassMutual’s LifeBridgeSM<\/sup> Free Life Insurance Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n
MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge schedule:<\/p>\n
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- January 8, 2015, Houston, TX \u2013 Toyota Center <\/li>\n
- January 13, 2015, Chicago, IL \u2013 United Center <\/li>\n
- January 27, 2015, Salt Lake, UT \u2013 EnergySolutions<\/i> Center <\/li>\n
- February 9, 2015, Phoenix, AZ \u2013 US Airways Center <\/li>\n
- February 27, 2015, Boston, MA \u2013 TD Garden<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In 2014, MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge reached 10,000 students visiting Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Springfield, MA. <\/p>\n
For more information, please visit http:\/\/www.massmutual.com\/futuresmartchallenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n
About MassMutual<\/b><\/p>\n
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company<\/a> that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength<\/a> and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance<\/a> as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance<\/a>, disability income insurance<\/a>, long term care insurance<\/a>, retirement\/401(k) plan services<\/a>, and annuities<\/a>. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.<\/p>\n
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA<\/a> and SIPC<\/a>; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit www.massmutual.com<\/a> or find MassMutual on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> and Google+.<\/a> <\/p>\n