Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta Launches A.G. Edwards' 'Payday Playday' Program

School Field Trip Will Teach Kids How to Earn, Budget and Save Money 


ATLANTA, Nov. 3  /PRNewswire/ -- Today, as part of A.G. Edwards' national "Nest Egg Knowledge for Kids" initiative, Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta is launching a new financial literacy school field-trip program to teach kindergarten, first and second grade students key money management lessons. The A.G. Edwards' "Payday Playday" program is aimed at helping Atlanta-area elementary school students begin to grasp the concepts of financial literacy, budgeting and saving.

According to a recent Nest Egg Score survey commissioned by A.G. Edwards and conducted by Harris Interactive(R), only about one in four U.S. children (27 percent) have learned about saving and investing through their schools. And even more surprisingly, that same survey revealed that more than half of U.S. parents with children in the home have not discussed saving or investing with their children.

"Given the country's record high personal debt levels and negative savings rates, the need for teaching children about financial literacy is more important than ever," said A.G. Edwards Financial Planning Specialist Sophie Beckmann, CFP(TM), CPA. "It's critical for young people to understand not only the importance of planning for everyday expenses and near-term needs, but also the need to save for the future. We're thrilled to team up with Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta to teach local kids how to handle money, from the implications of earning and spending to making wise decisions about saving for the future."

As part of the A.G. Edwards' "Payday Playday" field trip, grade-school children will learn valuable lessons about money in a fun "play" environment, as well as key money management lessons, including:

   -- How to earn money as a member of the community
   -- How to budget and manage money
   -- How to consider the effects of saving on their future



"Teaching our kids proper money management at a young age is essential to building an informed generation of workers, earners and spenders," adds Shannan Reese, director of development of the Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta. "To create this program, we have combined Georgia's state learning standards with our naturally fun yet educational environment -- truly making the field trip an extension of classroom learning."

In April 2006, A.G. Edwards pledged a half-million dollars to help improve the financial literacy of America's youth, in the form of grants to 17 children's museums across the country. The A.G. Edwards "Nest Egg Knowledge For Kids" grants will help fund unique educational programs at each of the museums to teach young people the concepts of earning, budgeting and saving money.

About Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta

Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta is a family-friendly space filled with interactive and educational exhibits for children age eight and under. The museum's permanent collection consists of bright, creative, hands- on exhibits designed to spark discovery and creative thinking. Admission is $11.00 for adults and children ages 2 and above. Memberships for a family of four start at $90, and discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more with advance reservations. Imagine It! is located directly across from The Georgia Aquarium at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive. For more information, visit http://www.imagineit-cma.org/ or call 404-659-KIDS (5437).

  Museum Hours:  Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
                 Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  About A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.


Drawn to the firm's client-first philosophy, individuals and businesses have turned to A.G. Edwards for sound advice and access to a wide array of investment products and services that can help them meet their financial goals and objectives. Founded in 1887, A.G. Edwards and its affiliates employ nearly 7,000 financial consultants in more than 700 offices nationwide and two European locations in London and Geneva. More information can be found on http://www.agedwards.com/ .

How We Do Business

A.G. Edwards generally acts as a broker-dealer but may act as an investment advisor on designated accounts, and the firm's obligations will vary with the role it plays. When working with clients, the firm generally acts as a broker-dealer unless specifically indicated in writing. To better understand the differences between brokerage and advisory services, please consult "Important Information About Your Relationship With A.G. Edwards" on http://www.agedwards.com/disclosures .

  For more information, contact:
  Pia Reinhold, [phone]          Jennifer Pons, [phone]
              

DATASOURCE: A.G. Edwards



CONTACT: Pia Reinhold of A.G. Edwards , [phone],

 ; or, Jennifer Pons of Imagine It! The Children's

Museum of Atlanta, [phone], 



Web site: http://www.agedwards.com/ 

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