investing Archives - Johnson Scholarship Foundation

Foundations don’t seek recognition for the work they do. They are uncomfortable in the spotlight, preferring instead to shine it upon their hard-working nonprofit partners.

But sometimes an event designed to show gratitude to a funder can become much more that. Here at the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, we had a chance to experience this firsthand during the recent Johnson Scholarship Day celebration at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Johnson Scholarship Day gave JSF staff a chance to meet more than 100 students who are recipients of PBA’s Johnson Scholarships. In total there are more than 800 academically talented and service-oriented Johnson Scholars at PBA, a Christian university of about 3,850 students in West Palm Beach, Florida.

This was the second year the university has hosted Johnson Scholarship Day. It was special to JSF for several reasons, but three in particular stood out to us.

First, it was a chance for JSF to get to know the students. During PBA’s Johnson Scholarship Day, we had a chance to enjoy refreshments and sit down with college students, a famously busy lot. They told us about their hometowns and their future plans. They also shared what the scholarship means to them.

Many of them spoke about financial need and how the scholarship helped fill in the gaps in their financial aid. Some said the scholarship gave them encouragement to stay focused on their studies. As Johnson Scholar Primose Lataillade told us, “It teaches us that people believe in us.”

Second, it was a chance for the students to get to know JSF. Our founders, the late Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson, came to know PBA through their personal friendship with PBA Founding Board Chairman Dr. Donald Warren.

PBA President William M. B. Fleming Jr. described Mr. Johnson as a remarkable man who loved PBA students. Because of Mr. Johnson’s admiration for the university, PBA has been a grant recipient – one of the Foundation’s largest – since JSF’s inception in 1991.

JSF President and CEO Malcolm Macleod gave the students additional insight into Mr. Johnson, who shared Dr. Warren’s belief that a school like PBA had the potential to slow what many perceived at the time as a moral decline in America. “He felt that this was a great investment in society,” he said.

Third, it was a chance for JSF to see the return on not just one but two of its investments. During the event, we learned that at least one of the students in the room was well acquainted with JSF long before she ever set foot on PBA’s campus.

As a student at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, this student spent all four years in the Johnson Scholars program, a college readiness program that is a partnership among JSF, the School District of Palm Beach County and Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County. Students who complete the program receive a college scholarship. For this young woman, that scholarship enabled her to continue her studies at PBA.

To us, stories like hers and the others we heard are what Johnson Scholarship Day was really about. We are proud of all of our Johnson Scholars at PBA, as well as those at other colleges, universities and schools throughout Florida, the United States and Canada.

Lady Hereford is a program specialist with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. She has spent significant time working in journalism and public relations, and she assists the Foundation’s communications efforts as it expands its impact across sectors. More information about the Johnson Scholarship Foundation can be found at www.jsf.bz.

We all know that games can be fun, even educational. But what about life changing?

Seven Generation Money Management (7G MM) developed by the Center for American Indian Economic Development at Northern Arizona University with support from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation is a hands-on financial literacy game targeted toward Native American youth to increase their money management skills and to give them a basic understanding of investing, opening a bank account, purchasing a car, renting an apartment, buying a house and other life skills.

As of today, CAIED has hosted 68 7G MM workshops/trainings and has had more than 1,600+ participants. Thus, I thought I would share three things I have learned from 7G MM and how it has impacted my life.

#1 Life Happens!!!!

The one thing I have seen and also experienced is that life happens. In 7G MM, life also happens. Let’s say you need to buy a refrigerator, the air conditioner goes out and needs to be repaired, or the stove stops working and needs to be replaced. Yep, life happens in the game and in life. All three of these events happened to me within 10 days. At the time I was grateful to have had an emergency fund and it was less of a hindrance to replace and/or repair these items. However, where is my emergency fund now ….

#2 Investments

Growing up, I did not know much about the stock market or investments outside of establishing and maintaining a savings account. In the game, participants have an opportunity to make investments. Some make money and some lose money. A couple of years ago we did a family investment project. I met up with my brother, who has been involved in investing for years. He gave my wife, my 11-year-old and me a quick overview and then we were off to play our own investing game. I gave my daughter $100 and told her she could invest it in anything she wanted. She decided on Blue Buffalo. Later that day she was talking to her aunt and her aunt asked her what she did that day. She proudly said, “I bought stocks!” Her aunt replied, “Why did you buy socks?” She looked at her aunt and was very determined. “I bought stocks. I own Blue Buffalo, so whenever you buy dog food, buy Blue Buffalo, because I own part of the company.” Today we buy Blue Buffalo!

#3 Moving Out of Your Family Home

In the game participants are challenged to move out, whether to go to school or to experience life. My oldest daughters are now going to college. My wife and I decided to buy a second home that they could live in while going to school. That is where the rest of my emergency fund went (toward the down payment). I have found that this is a forced savings account with the headaches of being a landlord. The first year we had a pipe burst and the whole basement was flooded by a rain storm. Fun times, but the property continues to rise in value.

Finally, your life is going to change and so will your goals. Whether it is going to school, changing a major, to having a family with kids or changing professions, just remember life is a present. Live it!

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More than Scholarships

3 Things I’ve Learned From the Seven Generation Money Management Game