READY

Jeffrey Elder
Email: Jeffready @email.com
Office: (614) 251-0183

READY

Banking on our kids

The Rigorous Educational Assistance for Deserving Youth ''READY'' is a not for profit corporation based in Columbus, Ohio which focuses on providing financial education to young students. The READY program seeks to teach Columbus Public School about money management and the capital markets, along with their personal development.

Jeffrey Elder, a life long Columbus resident and product of the Columbus Public School System began developing READY conceptually during the 1992-1993 academic year. During this period and in the subsequent years, Mr. Elder was not only the driving force behind READY's growth, but he has served solely on a voluntary basis. Financing for the program during the first years came solely from Mr. Elder's personal resources. After receiving 501c(3) status in 1995, READY was able to successfully solicit support from some local businesses, foundations and private contributors.

In addition to Mr. Elder and his efforts, the program has also had a small, growing network of instructors who are believers of the concept. These efforts along with insights and advice gathered from a small group of business people who serve as an advisory board help assure that the right messages are getting out and that the organization can continue to remain effective. This group also assists in insuring that the messages and lessons continue to be germane to today's marketplace.

Since inception, there have been about 2000 students who have gone through some phase or capacity of the READY program. These students have all been Columbus Public School pupils and have primarily been from low and moderate-income backgrounds. These students have been racially diverse and none have had instruction on personal finance or budgeting. Further, given their backgrounds and history most of the students have been mathematical and reading comprehension issues.

A quality education is what the READY program strives to impart, by providing an interactive approach to learning about business, teaches students to work cooperatively with other in decision making situation, demonstrates to students the relationship among market force and the business world, motivates students who are often hard to reach by combining active learning technique, providing the right mix of fun, skills, learning, and competition, and Offers students an oppportunity to sample the adult world and the world of work.

The READY Book

This book was created to help parents and teachers increase the economic literacy of their children or students by introducing them to the basic concept of money management and the capital market. Its intent is to create an interesting and inclusive experience where children and students can work with adults from both the private and public sectors to learn problem solving and develop financial life skills through ''hands on'' learning.

The book includes 12 lessons, which can be completed in approximately 40 minute. The book is designed to allow each parent and teacher flexibity in implementing the lessons of the program. After each lessons there are suggested activities, which can be included as a part of a class or group setting. In each lessons these suggested activities are broken down into six categories: creative arts (which include art and drama) and Language arts(which include reading and writing),math,social studies, history,science,and computer activities. The second part of the book include the stock market, which include understanding stock prices, bond, mutual fund. These suggested activities do not include the stock market. We have left that part for you to research.

I have designed to engage the students, emphasize ''hand on'' learning. With the increase emphasis on technology in today's society, parents and teachers may want to utilize any computer facilities in teaching the lesson and include the use of a calculator. We also suggest that a Wall Street Journal be used throughout as an organizational tool.