“Kids are like Kodak film; they need exposure and development,” said Gail Perry-Mason, founder of Money Matters 4 Youth Financial Literacy Camp located in Detroit.
Perry-Mason, a financial expert, best-selling author and financial coach is the brainchild behind spearheading an educational field trip for approximately 25 Detroit students to Omaha, Nebraska to meet billionaire Warren Buffet. These students will get to experience an opportunity of a lifetime by attending the highly anticipated Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting on Saturday, May 6, along with an estimated 40K people who will also be attending the noteworthy “Woodstock of Capitalism” event of the year.
“[Students] need to be exposed to corporate America, entrepreneurship, oh my God. They are so interested in learning about money. Money is a tool that you can reach kids to talk about anything. But I use money as a tool for them to learn to value themselves before they learn the value of a dollar. It’s really all about value,” Perry-Mason acknowledged.
Perry-Mason has been running her Money Matters 4 Youth Money camp for over 20 years and teaches students to purchase stock in the consumer items they buy. She’s super excited about the trip and said, “We are so thrilled that Detroit and Money Matters for Youth students will make a historic mark in Omaha at the closed meeting of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders as the specially invited guests of the legendary CEO Warren Buffett.” The fortunate students who will participate in the trip were selected from Mason’s Money Matters 4 Youth and GM Chevy Motors Money Matters Project (through Rainbow PUSH Coalition) and range in age from 8 – 18. They will have an opportunity to actually meet with Buffett and other investment moguls and will also participate in a weekend of events focused on financial literacy and investing during their two-day stay.
There have been several fundraisers to help secure the $35K needed to send the 25 students and their chaperones to Omaha on May 5. Even though this goal has not yet been met, donations are still being accepted and the trip will go on.
“We are thankful to the many supporters, both individuals and corporate donors, who have assisted, so far. Many generous donors in the Detroit-area, such as First Independence Bank, Ally Financial, National Association of Securities Professionals-Detroit and Jaffe Rait Law Firm have stepped up to donate and show support,” said Perry-Mason.
Perry-Mason also goes on to say, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our camp students who vow to pay it forward by returning home and teaching Detroit youth, from families with a wide variety of incomes, the value of economic intelligence and of making smart investments.”
For more information, visit www.youcaring.com/moneymattersforyouth-791468
