Here’s a clip from Sharon’s inspirational speech:

I believe that EVERY American child should receive financial literacy education throughout their K-12 education as well as in post-secondary.
The students are there — today.
The Money Math curriculum is done and available on-line  — today.
The teachers are there — today.
The cost to implement is minimal.

So what is the problem? The program today is voluntary – not mandatory.  It takes a license to drive a car today. It should be a requirement for individuals to understand the basics of how to drive crucial financial and economic decisions in their life, in a democracy rooted in capitalism and free enterprise choices. We need to make it mandatory and give our young people the gift of financial literacy.

In addition, the summit received glowing praise on the White House Blog. The summit was described as a, “truly historic event where national and international leaders came together to ensure that communities receive the education and resources needed to promote greater understanding of their financial decisions and the potential impacts of those decisions.”

More individuals and organizations from all branches of society and government are taking notice of the need for financial education. Events such as the Global Financial Literacy Summit propel the ideals further every day.

Sharon Lechter and Mark Victor Hansen (co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul) are teaming up to hold a “Cashing in on the Crash” seminar in Phoenix from July 24-26. During the three day seminar, Mark will share all his social networking secrets and record them on CD and DVD, and Sharon will tell all on the “language of money” and financial education for our kids.

Many people claim to have an interest in being successful. However, not many people are willing to take the action steps toward success. To take that action step, you need to attend the very limited seminar (only 300 seats).

During the incredible event, participants will discover:

• 10 Ways to Make Money in Social Networking
• “The Language of Money” & Financial Education for our Kids
• Making Money Starting with No Money
• And so much more!

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from two of the best in their fields. To learn more on the event and to book seats, you can go to www.MVHseminar.com.

Sharon and the company hosting the seminar, Success is Yours Productions, have arranged for anyone signing up for the seminar through this blog to receive a 25% discount. Just put “Sharon” in the coupon box to get the special.

The three day seminar will be held at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Remember to book your tickets now before they sell out. Only 300 are available at www.MVHseminar.com.

Call me crazy, but I love the smell of sun block. It makes me think back to my childhood and I remember all the fun things we used to do during the summer. My favorite time was the 4th of July. Fireworks, hot dogs and watermelon…it was the best. Obviously the whole reason we celebrate our independence day was lost on me at the time, but now that I am older, I can fully appreciate how important independence is. The definition of independence is “freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.” So- this past 4th of July, I thought “what am I NOT independent from?” Debt. Grr.

How did this happen to me? I have a type A personality- I am meticulous to the point of being annoying. How could I have gotten into debt? Yet, there is my looming credit card balance. So my husband and I hunkered down and put together a plan to pay it off. We realized that some major emergency purchases have made up our debt (mostly car repairs), so we put an emergency fund together, to eliminate any additional future debt. Then, we consolidated. We were blessed to have an incredible offer from Discover card of zero percent interest for the life of the balance- as long as two purchases are made each month. So, three credit card bills turned into one and we are on our way to paying down the debt. The key is, to not put any more debt on the card during this process. You mean live within my means?! What? Yeah, I know. It is hard for me too.

That brings me to one of the biggest parts of our debt- our third child. I would say that about $2500 of our debt went to having the chubby little cutie pie that loves to smile and eat bananas. And of course I wouldn’t change it for the world. Our other children are 6 years old and 3 years old. I have tried to involve them in the budgeting and debt process as much as is appropriate. They help me look for good deals at the store, I ask them questions about how much things cost and now that my daughter can read and knows a little about money, we are making some head way. I recently gave my son a quarter at a garage sale and explained to him that he could pick whatever he wanted that was under 25 cents. He chose a couple things that were above his limit, but ended up finding a couple toys for 10 cents a piece.

As they get older, I want them to be financially independent. I want them to control their money- not let it control them. I also want to encourage them to be entrepreneurial. My son loves to do yard work. Family members say “maybe he will become a gardener when he grows up.” Let’s go one step beyond that- maybe he can own his own landscaping company! I constantly am having ideas of cool businesses that I would like to do…most of which come out of some need or desire I have. I just haven’t taken the leap yet. It would be great to not only be out of debt, but to have my own business. Then I could really be financially independent. I have heard that being debt free feels incredible, that you can finally live in the present and not the past. I am probably still paying for things that I don’t have anymore!

So, with a deep breath and a look towards the future, I continue to faithfully pay off my credit card and keep my eye on the finish line.

As we reflect on this 4th of July weekend, I’m reminded of an idiom that often pops into my head during traditional memorial holidays, “Freedom isn’t Free.” Freedom takes hard work, dedication and a commitment to not only bettering oneself, but others as well. It comes at the price of effort, time and often sacrifices – big or small.

It occurred to me this year though, that the phrase is far more encompassing than a simple tributary saying in honor of our troops. It’s applicable to every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s the freedom to express ourselves, choose our own careers, practice our own religion or even live a life independent of monetary concerns. In fact, “Freedom isn’t Free” might be the perfect way to look at our financial lives.

Financial freedom often seemed like a goal far off in the future. Something for when I was older, more experienced and had put my due time into the work force. Who was I to think that it was something I was entitled to so early in my life? At least that’s how I used to think.

Then I realized there was something fatally flawed about that line of thought. Financial freedom has no age requirement or restriction, it does not magically happen at the age of 40, 50 or 60, but is a destination that can be reached with alacrity – or never at all – depending upon how the journey is approached. Not only that, but who was I to think I was entitled to riches and a life without effort or care? If I wanted those freedoms, they certainly would not come free. They would come with effort, time and yes, sacrifices.

With the following realization, I’ve been putting my time and effort toward financial freedom. I’ve set goals to pay off debts, made sacrifices on different wants, budgeted expenses for saving and spending, made investments and even looked into turning a hobby – photography – into a money maker.

Photography has always been a small passion of mine, but it wasn’t until recently that I thought it could be an actual money-maker. I never really considered myself good enough for that. After receiving encouragement from friends and family though, I have looked into ways to begin turning the hobby into an income source. I’ve poured countless hours into reading blogs, books and critiques on improving the craft, met with professional photographers, invested money into portfolio building and put effort into my networking outreach.

The effort has been very rewarding and I’m happy to say that I have sold a decent amount of photographs, expanded my knowledge base, made new contacts in the business and continue to learn more each day. It’s afforded me the ability to invest more into a hobby I enjoy and continue the journey toward financial freedom.

So reflecting on this past Independence Day, as the nation collectively tucks back the barbeques, cleans the serving platters and reviews photos of fireworks, remember that there is more than just one way to look at freedom. Think financially as well.

WASHINGTON, DC – A summit held by Operation HOPE (HOPE), a leading global nonprofit social investment banking and financial literacy empowerment organization, gathered together an unprecedented array of national and global leaders to discuss the importance of instilling the “language of money” in the homes of Americans and individuals around the world of all walks of life.

The summit was launched in response to the global economic crisis, the highest U.S. unemployment rate in 25 years (9.4 percent), and a loss of consumer and market confidence due to deteriorating personal finances. Highlights of the day included a signing of an historic Memorandum of Understanding with The Financial Services Roundtable, which will help promote a financial literacy standard countrywide and the launch of Tech 2000, a new entrepreneurial program featuring Apple worldwide certification for youth, and aimed at promoting education and growing business skills for youth.

John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman and CEO, HOPE, who also serves as vice chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy and who hosted the summit said, “When a top adviser to President Obama, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, the FDIC chair, a civil rights icon and four members of Congress all make time in their busy schedules to spend the day making a strong business case for the potential of a world in which financial literacy is deeply engrained in the lives of every family, it sends a loud message indeed. These global leaders who are dealing with the current economic meltdown know better than anyone how important it is that every citizen understands more than just math; they also need to understand the language of money.”

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke has long been a champion for financial literacy and a strong supporter of HOPE’s “silver rights” mission to empower the underserved through financial literacy. Chairman Bernanke said, “Community-based organizations such as Operation HOPE offer training and counseling to people in traditionally underserved markets, helping them to manage credit, buy homes, and start small businesses. These organizations (with a particular emphasis on Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund) also facilitate economic growth and development by offering a broad range of services and financing in low- and moderate-income communities.”

White House Senior Advisor, Valarie Jarrett, who now serves as Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Obama administration provided a special keynote address. “Today’s consumers have a bewildering set of choices…and they all create an environment where consumers feel at-risk,” she said.

As Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Sheila Bair knows having citizens armed with financial literacy is the only way to ensure local and global economic stability. She stated, “Financial education is very important during these challenging economic times.”

Adding gravitas to the day’s proceedings were Chair-Emeritus of the National Council on Negro Women, civil rights legend Dr. Dorothy I. Height, and HOPE Global Spokesman, former Ambassador and civil rights icon Andrew Young. Young noted that financial literacy is the latest fight for civil rights. “Rights imply that somebody has something to give us and they’re not giving it to us. When you switch from politics to finance, that doesn’t necessarily apply anymore. You must work, invest, think, dream, and create for yourself,” he explained.

Event support from financial sponsors included lead sponsorship by retail giant Wal-Mart, major sponsorship by financial services leader JP Morgan Chase & Co. and CIT, and supporting sponsorship by major corporate and foundation leaders including The Coca Cola Company, SunTrust, The Charles Schwab Foundation, Best Buy, Ernest & Young, Ally, U.S. Bank and Tech 2000.

Summit work partners who provided in-kind support included the American Banker, America’s Promise Alliance, The Financial Services Roundtable, Pearson Foundation, Jump$tart, Milken Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Post.

More than 800 delegates and economic leaders from six continents and more than 30 countries were there to deliver comments, or participate in panel discussions. The event was held at Town Hall Education, Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC) in historic Southeast Washington, D.C. also known as Anacostia.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Operation HOPE is America’s leading nonprofit social investment banking and financial literacy empowerment organization. With more than 400 private sector partners, 1500 nonprofit organizations and schools, and 100 government partners in 30 major U.S. cities as well as South Africa, HOPE has raised more than $400 million in its pursuit of educating, assisting and inspiring the next generation of global stakeholders. Through international initiatives and its three principal programs, Banking on Our Future (teaching school children about money), HOPE Coalition America (Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline, 1-888-388-HOPE, financial emergency preparedness and disaster relief), and Walk-In HOPE Centers (loans, bill pay, computer literacy, understanding banking principles), Operation HOPE has assumed the responsibility of piloting the “Silver Rights Movement” towards making free enterprise and capitalism relevant to all underserved communities. For more information about HOPE visit www.operationhope.org

On June 12, Sharon spoke with Stephanie Sandoval on ABC 15’s Sonoran Living. Sharon and Stephanie discussed fun summer activities for the kids that would leave them not only entertained, but better prepared for school next Fall and for the rest of their lives - specifically YOUTHpreneur.

Next, as Sharon traveled to DC to be a part of the Global Financial Literacy Summit, she spoke with ABC 7’s Rebecca Cooper. Sharon and Rebecca spoke about the summit, how to change the course of financial literacy and the many projects Sharon has been working on.

Shortly after, Sharon spoke at length with Peter Anthony Holder of Montreal’s CJAD radio for a half-hour interview on a range of topics from financial education to YOUTHpreneur. You can listen to the clip to learn more.

Sharon will also be appearing on Arizona’s 3TV on Tuesday, June 30, at 7:45a.m. to speak with host Tara Hitchcock. Be sure to tune in!

Over the course of the day several plenary sessions will be held to discuss various aspects of financial literacy from lending practices to progressive policy to financial literacy empowerment. From 11:15-12:30, Sharon will Chair the plenary session on Financial Literacy Empowerment. Under her direction the session and several distinguished speakers will tackle how to energize supporters for financial education and the ways to capitalize on it.

The Summit will frame the issue of financial literacy, possibly for the first time, not as a soft and ancillary economic tool, nor as an option, but as an essential, core ingredient to mid-to-long-term economic recovery and stability, according to the Web site.

The Global Summit will make a strong business case for financial literacy itself, and seek to reshape the debate around financial literacy away from its definition by some as a simple, narrowly focused math class, towards a more robust, practical, and aspirationally relevant strategy to ground consumer confidence in a core competency.

Sharon will play a key role in helping shape the policies and new ideas at the Summit that will begin to propel financial literacy to new levels.

For more than 30 years, the HOBY program has been offered in the state of Arizona.  Every high school is provided the opportunity to select their Outstanding Sophomore to participate in the HOBY Arizona Leadership Seminar, a four-day leadership development program held at one of Arizona’s three public universities.  During the seminar, students receive leadership skill development through panels of entrepreneurs, elected officials, media and sports figures, and various professionals from the fields of law, medicine, and education.  Throughout the program, community service is highlighted as the central component of leadership; about 1/5 of the seminar program is dedicated to community service projects at local food banks, hospitals, clothing and food banks.

The panel with Sharon will be held on Arizona State University’s campus in the new COOR building, room 170, from 12:45-3:45pm.

You can read more and see the video from wibw.com. This is yet another great victory for financial education.

The continuing economic slump has really shown the true value of financial education. With your support we can see financial education for every K-12 student in America. Please call your local representatives to let them know that financial education is important to you! You can read the rest of the article here.