I started volunteering at the Christian Mission in Mooresville, NC, during my freshman year, honestly just to fulfill a school requirement. My tasks were simple: stocking shelves, organizing the food pantry, and helping clients shop. It fit easily into my school schedule, didn't add any stress to my life, and while I knew that I was just one of over 800 volunteers,  I took pride in playing a small part to help.

 

Over the next few months, my perspective shifted. I started noticing the people we served. Most were between 25 and 75 years old, often parents with young children. They didn't have visible disabilities—they were just everyday people facing hard times. I found myself wondering about the root causes of their financial struggles. That curiosity led me to look past surface assumptions and think about systemic issues, especially the complete lack of early financial education. I realized that without early guidance on budgeting, saving, and investing, breaking the cycle of economic hardship is incredibly difficult.

 

This realization forced me to look at my own life. Aside from knowing I needed a job and should save for retirement, my financial literacy was essentially zero. And I wasn’t alone. Data from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) shows that 22% of U.S. teens lack basic financial skills, even though nearly three-quarters of them want to learn.

 

I wanted to close this gap for myself and my peers, so I founded Smart Money. Our mission is to teach teenagers the absolute essentials: saving, budgeting, investing, and avoiding debt. By empowering students to make smart money choices today, we help them build habits that lead to true independence. Ultimately, securing a sound financial future for our youth builds a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.

 

— Vivahn