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Check out our KTVU Channel 2 spotlight at Ford Elementary here. “BizWorld.org came into my classroom in April, and I am so glad they did! Bizworld.org helped my students understand the complexities required to start, operate and finance their own movie production company. My students were able to receive real-world, financial literacy skills in an incredibly engaging, creative and collaborative way. My students were excited that they were able to be creative and create their own animated short films. They also created advertisements and sold movie tickets to their films. The overall experience with BizWorld.org and the BizMovie curriculum which they used during their visit is a resource that all students should experience.” – Mr. Francisco Ortiz, 6th Grade Teacher “My students really benefited from your program and were very happy when I suggested that we do another movie on a book that we are currently reading in class. I found that the presentations were very well done and many of my students who I was worried might be a problem during the class actually were very involved. Having them re-write a book that has been published has made them really delve into the book to understand what the author was trying to tell them. I hope that I will be able to put all of the different chapters together for one movie…I want to commend your staff on a fantastic three days in our classrooms giving our students a purpose to be there. I think that all of our students learned from the experience, and I actually learned some parts of the Business World that I did not know before.” – Mr. Richard Perrault, 6th Grade Teacher

1) Q: Do you believe that entrepreneurship and financial education are important skills to learn at a young age? If so, why? Absolutely. Instilling any values in children at a young age is incredibly important as it molds how their minds develop. These values guide them on how they think, analyze, make decisions and act. As adults who influence these young minds, we must choose our actions and counsel around our children wisely. As we relate that to financial education and entrepreneurship, we are really looking at two questions. Financial Education: Our economy driven in part by consumer spending. Children seeing advertisements tell them and adults to buy the “next big thing we must have” while the last big thing we just needed sits unused, or worse, in the trash. Teaching young children the value of money and “stuff” is critical to developing a healthy relationship with money as they grow. One of U.S. Bank’s recent magazine articles, “Jump Start Your Teens Financial Future,” notes that setting and achieving goals can be a powerful way to teach young people about wealth management. Some sad news, according to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation’s 2013 study, “Financial Capability in the United States,” measures of financial capability are markedly low among 18- to 34-year-old Americans. These young adults are more likely than adults over 35-years old to declare bankruptcy, withdraw money prematurely from retirement accounts, overdraw checking accounts, and use costly credit card borrowing methods and struggle with the management of short-term unexpected expenses. Understanding and respecting the relationship with money, along with goal setting is a good foundation to healthy money management. As most of adults know, this is a solid lesson to learn and the earlier the better. On entrepreneurship. Understanding the power of entrepreneurship goes beyond monetary benefits. It teaches a most important lesson: if you really want something and work hard for it, you can achieve it. Even if the actual “it” outcome may not look exactly as one imagined. “It” may be a lot better! Entrepreneurship teaches us to dream. It provides hands-on experience in risk/reward, hard work, luck and failure and the gift of constant learning. Entrepreneurship is empowerment and how important is that lesson? How many of us adults wish we would have learned about entrepreneurship when we were young? 2) Q: With more and more states incorporating financial literacy into their required standards, we are learning the importance of teaching students the foundations of financial responsibility at a young age. What are some activities you would recommend for our teachers to use in their classrooms? Parents and teachers can use the same strategies. TALK to kids about your own goals and spend time together as a family and as a classroom making choices. Schools and teachers can partner with organizations such as BizWorld.org and U.S. Bank on engaging students with entrepreneurship education programs. The key for kids is to make it tangible and fun. BizWorld.org is an organization of students, parents, educators, and volunteers dedicated to improving education in the world. BizWorld.org’s project-based entrepreneurial programs provide students and teachers with authentic learning experiences in which students actively participate in investigating real-world concepts like problem-solving, managing finances, working in teams and being leaders. The programs equip students with the skills to explore career possibilities or create their own employment opportunities. At U.S. Bank, we believe that financial education is essential in building healthy financial habits for life. During the 2013-2014 school year, more than 4,000 high school students participated in the U.S. Bank Financial Genius Scholars Program, of which 2,200 were certified by completing all of the available learning modules. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 10,000 students have participated. In fact, U.S. Bank is celebrating Financial Literacy Month this April through its Financial Genius Scholars Program. Throughout the month, U.S. Bank volunteers are connecting with high school students in eight cities: Sacramento, San Diego, Duluth, San Francisco, Rapid City, Phoenix, Seattle and St. Paul. These volunteers are engaging students in a variety of activities including classroom discussions, online games and financial literacy lessons. Students are also taking part in Q and A sessions with our bankers, who provide insights into careers in the financial services industry and address personal finance questions. In addition, students can take online courses through the U.S. Bank Financial Genius Scholars Program, which provides real-world scenarios and knowledge to sharpen personal finance skills. Topics Include: Savings & Budgeting, Understanding a Credit Score and its Implications, Understanding Credit Cards & Managing Debt, How a Bank Works & Federal Reserve overview, Taxes and Insurance, Renting vs. Owning, Managing Loans to Finance a Higher Education, Investing Overview and Consumer Fraud and Protection.Just a few examples of programs teachers and parents can take advantage of! 3) Q: What can parents do to encourage good savings and investing habits in their children? 1. Lead by example and talk to them.I used to hate it when my parents told me “we can’t afford it…” I heard that a lot in my life and I can tell you I made some bad money decisions early in life as a result of wanting to get away from this mentality! Parents should explain to, and not just tell, children why you and/or they just might not really need that “next big thing we must have”. Show children the value (and freedom!) of life without excess stuff. Explain the work: stuff ratio and what is really important. It’s generally not “stuff”. 2. Parents should set “S” Goals as it relates to money: Share, Save, Spend.Parents should set appropriate goals for children on spending, giving money through philanthropy, and saving money. Parents should begin having conversations about money — around goals, needs and wants, and how money works — as soon as their kids are old enough to understand the concept. Honestly, it’s never too early, nor late to start. 4) Q: What are your top 5 suggestions on savings and investment resources that we could share

You work hard for your money and, especially in these tough economic times, every dollar counts. Make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, and staying within your budget at the same time, by following these tips: Don’t buy anything on the spur-of-the-moment – Spur-of-the-moment buying results in unnecessary spending. Resist the initial urge, and see if you feel as strongly about it 24 hours later. Don’t make spending something you do in your spare time – Don’t shop in stores, malls, and online sites just to pass the time. Find free activities to do, and spend your time taking care of the things you already have. Look for less expensive ways to get the things you want – Rent a DVD instead of going to the theater. Shop the clearance section instead of the new arrivals. Also, try generics. Many are just as good as the name brand at a fraction of the cost. Sign up for e-mail coupons and loyalty cards from stores that you frequent – Often, you don’t even need to carry them around in your purse or wallet. Just take your phone with you, and give the sales associate the code when you’re checking out. Remember these three words: Everything is negotiable – Your customer dollars are very precious, to you and to sellers, so always make sure you’re getting the absolute best deal possible. A smart consumer knows how to get the best price by doing their homework, shopping around, and asking for a discount. Never be ashamed to bargain. Clare LevisonCPA and author of Frugal Isn’t Cheap: Spend Less, Save More, and Live Better Clare K. Levison is a certified public accountant and author of Frugal Isn’t Cheap: Spend Less, Save More, and Live Better. Clare has appeared on major radio and television networks across the country discussing personal finance and has also been a contributor to publications such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and U.S. News & World Report. Clare is a national financial literacy spokesperson for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and serves as a member of their National Financial Literacy Commission. She has served as a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) Board of Directors and was named one of the 2010 Top Five CPAs Under Thirty-Five by the VSCPA. www.clarelevison.com

In celebration of Financial Literacy Month, this week we are focusing on the importance of earning income. Most industries and professions rely on sales to earn income. A well managed sales relationship is crucial for growing revenue and building a successful business. In our BizWorld.org programs, students learn about and personally experience the direct connection between sales, customer relationships and earning income. In our video blog post today our friend, John Enterline, shares his top tips and best practices on how to have a great sales relationship. John is a Division Director at Robert Half Technology, a division of Robert Half International, the world’s first and largest accounting and finance staffing firm. Thank you, John for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

Ready, Set, Action! By Sherry Rahmani Program Outreach Coordinator, BizWorld.org Last month, I had the privilege of accompanying our BizWorld.org team to Katherine Smith Elementary for their Box Office Day. Having been a teacher in the past, I was thrilled about the opportunity to spend time with the students and to see our BizMovie stars in action. BizMovie is an innovative, project-based program that gives students an opportunity to explore technology, while learning about business, entrepreneurship and finance through building and running movie production companies. During Box Office Day, the students screen their own animated movies to an audience of students and teachers. This experience far exceeded my expectations! I was blown away by the amount of creativity and charisma that came across in each presentation. It was heartwarming to see the level of dedication from each student, and I enjoyed watching them take pride in their movies as they explained their production process to the audience. I also could not help but admire the way the Katherine Smith Elementary teachers collaborated together, joining efforts and supporting one another throughout the day. What a phenomenal team! I left the school with a big smile on my face. Thanks to our generous sponsor, Cisco, and our partner, GoAnimate, for making this incredible experience possible!

Rosio Cervantes, Mother of Dorian, a 5th Grade Elementary Student Last month I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at BizWorld Academy at Wells Fargo in San Francisco. Watching my son go through this academy to teach entrepreneurship and real-world skills to kids was such a treat. It is so incredible to see the kids and businesses in action. The children get the whole experience of running a business from paying salaries and purchasing materials to keeping track of all their finances. The program is teaching Dorian how to become a good communicator and how to work with other people. BizWorld is all encompassing, and gives so many opportunities to the kids! I am so excited for the spanish version of the BizWorld program to come out. This will allow the organization to teach their programs and philosophies to more spanish-speaking students around the world! Thank you to your team and company for giving our kids this opportunity to learn and think about their futures. Dorian is very happy and I am excited as a parent! Thank you Wells Fargo!

Camp BizWorld Empowers 5th Graders with Entrepreneurship Education (Part 2 of 3) Juanita Flores-Mejia 5th Grade Teacher, Ford Elementary School Last week, I brought my class over from Richmond, CA to San Francisco where BizWorld.org held their BizWorld Academyd at Wells Fargo. The students worked really well together throughout the 2-day field trip. As they learned the strategy of running a business,​ they had to think quickly on their feet…that is a real-world skill! They worked together to ​create a company name, make friendship bracelets, and tap into their creativity to make commercials for their businesses. Our school, Ford Elementary, is a microsociety school where all our teachers run different agencies. The kids learn a lot of new terms and create many things, but we don’t handle funds or money as much. At BizWorld Academy, the students learned so much about finances – how to produce revenue, how to spend less, and how to keep track of it all. BizWorld has also really taught them about the true value of money. It is so important for students to learn entrepreneurship at a young age. Read More: Part 1 Part 3

BizWorld Academy Empowers 5th Graders with Entrepreneurship Education (Part 1 of 3) By Troy French Senior Vice President Corporate Foreign Exchange, Wells Fargo Board Member, BizWorld.org Last week, I had the pleasure of being a guest speaker at BizWorld Academy, a wonderful opportunity that pairs a corporation with a local school. The academy introduced BizWorld.org‘s entrepreneurship programs to a group of bright 5th graders from Ford Elementary School located in Richmond, CA. The academy was held at Wells Fargo in San Francisco, CA. The students asked me a series of questions about my role and what I do at Wells Fargo. They formed their own friendship bracelet companies while learning real-world skills such as leadership, teamwork, and financial management. These students were in the presence of other Wells Fargo employees that taught them about their own jobs, and helped the students to thrive in their roles as mini-executives! In turn, BizWorld Academy gave Wells Fargo and it’s employees an opportunity to give back to their community by involving the volunteers in mentoring the students. It was a positive and inspiring event! The following is a list of questions that the students asked me. Q: What was your 1st job? A: I was a landscaper at age 13. In high school, I worked in a restaurant as a bus boy and then a server. In college I worked in a gym, and then I worked for a stock broker for free to gain some business experience. Q: What do you like most about your job? A: I love working with people! I like working with businesses of all sizes and learning about their products and services. It is very satisfying when we are able to help customers achieve their financial goals. Q: What do you like least? A: The paperwork can get kind of boring. There are a lot of complexities and regulatory requirements in our business that require careful documentation, which may not be the most interesting part of my job but it is certainly important. Q: What countries do you work with and send money to? A: My group sends money all over the world. We do a lot of work with Canada, Mexico, Japan, all over Europe and increasingly in China. Q: Why did you want to come and work at Wells Fargo? A: I was looking for a move back to the Bay Area. I really was impressed with the person that interviewed me from Wells Fargo. She was really smart and had a great personality. I knew that I wanted to learn from someone a lot smarter than me. Fast forward to today, and I have been working for that same person and at Wells Fargo for nearly 18 years now. Q: Do you know a foreign language? A: I wish I did, but I don’t. I wish I knew Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese and others. I would recommend that each of you learn at least 3 languages. Q: What inspires you? My wife and kids. I work hard for them. In addition, I love to learn new things. Read More: Part 2 Part 3

By Shin Noguchi, Marketing Assistant, BizWorld.org Excited and optimistic. These are the words I would use to describe the overarching, heart-warming feeling I got from our BizWorld Academy event last Thursday. I chose these words not only because we are in full swing for the holidays, but because after spending an entire 2 days with fifth graders from Richmond, CA, I felt like I made a difference in many childrens’ lives. We are so thankful to our partner, a leading financial investment management company in San Francisco, who generously sponsored our two-day academy that teaches children all about starting and running businesses. These programs are fun, hands-on and so engaging that the kids love it. They learned how to create a company,design and manufacture bracelets together, pitch their business ideas to volunteer investors, consider the merits of bank loans and paying interest, and sell all their bracelets at an incredible, volunteer-packed sales bazaar. I watched these children become budding entrepreneurs right in front of my own eyes. Amazing! Children are so impressionable and learn so quickly. With programs like ours, we can help children see the many careers and options available to them, the relevance of what they are learning in school, and how exciting hard work can be. That’s the coolest gift of all!

BizWorld.org is excited to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week! Today we celebrate our “International Partner of the Day” – BizWorld Mexico! “As business people with a great interest in the growth of the Mexican economy, we believe the best investment we can make is in our children. With BizWorld.org’s many years of experience in teaching entrepreneurship to kids, we believe they are a great fit for helping us accomplish our goal to educate the next generation of enterprising citizens.” – Roberto Malpica, Chairman of BizWorld.org Mexico