More than ever before, our children need heroes. All too often they pick examples who seem to have the world, but in reality are people who lead short lived glamorous lives- marked by bad financial and career choices. We owe it to the children, to help them in any way we can, and Junior Achievement can make that difference.

Hi, my name is Marvin Suggs, and I work for Pinnacle Bank in Nashville, TN. I’m not a banker by trade (I’m just an IT person) but I work for perhaps the most awesome bank in the world. Pinnacle prides itself in offering the best financial advice. I try to do my part by offering the best IT advice. This is the part where you come in- our children are in desperate need of good advice. We owe it to them and our future to give them good advice. Your partnership with Junior Achievement can make that possible!

My plea last year included a story of a young couple who were struggling because they didn’t possess the most basic financial skills. I heard just last week that they were separated. That really makes me sad. I fear that the reality is all too many failed marriages go back to finances. Statistics on this, indicate that the odds of a marriage failing are increased at least 30% to as much as 160% when there is conflict in the relationship about finances. Sometimes it is not so much disagreement as it is ignorance.  Seriously- what boy looks at a potential wife and says, ” Gee I love the way she follows a budget”?

I am blessed to work with children, but again, I am saddened by their plight. When I asked the kids if they had ever taken advantage of Junior Achievement  within their schools,  only one knew anything about it. What if JA has so far been unable to offer classes in all these schools? The initiative we are undertaking is to provide the opportunity to teach these kids how to lead healthy financial lives. They (and we) need this foundation.  Aside from the huge impact at an individual level, our economy and our communities will be strengthened by this.  Not just better marriages, but future businesses, and future workers in the ones we have worked so hard to establish. It is very much the right thing to do.

Pinnacle Bank and I support Junior Achievement, and I hope you will personally join me in this effort. This year’s Bowl-a-thon theme is “super heroes”, and I am about as far from a super hero as you can get. I don’t think I have worn a cape since I was 5, but I am ready to do what I can to help these kids .  Likewise (and thankfully) the success of the Junior Achievement Bowlathon is not based on my ability to bowl, but is based solely on our fundraising efforts to help these children.  I get nothing directly from it but a fun evening, and a sure and warm feeling that I have done the right thing. This is an opportunity for you to “put on your cape and use your power for good”, and to give to help. Will you be a part of this, and be a “super hero” for these children?

For every $125 earned, Junior Achievement will be able to staff, supply, and provide a class to teach students in classes K- 12 in a 21-county Middle Tennessee area, about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness.