Tempe, AZ -- (SBWire) -- 01/03/2012 --Best selling author Sharon Lechter’s financial literacy organization, Pay Your Family First, has joined forces with the non-profit group, Choices Educational Empowerment to launch the first ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge at Estrella High School in Avondale on January 18, 2012. Schools across Arizona will participate in the initiative through April 2012 and students will be eligible for regional and state level competitions. The student organization, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) is holding competitions at their regional and state conferences between January and April for advancement as well.

The challenge invites high school students to compete in game play of Lechter’s award winning board game, ThriveTime for Teens. Developed by Lechter as a tool for teaching money management to youth and families, the game requires participants to navigate real-life scenarios related to earning, saving, investing, spending, and giving. Top winners from all competitions will earn scholarships or cash prizes and move on to the state competition in April of 2012, coinciding with Financial Literacy Month.

A struggling economy and budget cuts at the national and local level have left schools struggling to maintain high quality education, with many families questioning how to finance college expenses. Compounding the issue, studies show that many youth demonstrate a very poor understanding of money and finances. The challenge promotes Lechter’s mission to empower schools, families and youth to embrace financial literacy.

"Managing money is a life skill – and as parents, grandparents and interested adults – it's up to us to equip our children for the financial world they are going to face. Our ThriveTime Challenge will teach critical, practical skills while awarding scholarships and prizes for well deserving students and their schools," said Lechter.

Arizona State Treasurer, Doug Ducey applauds this initiative and is expected to appear at the state competition, where students will compete for cash awards ranging from $2500 to $5000, plus chances to earn spots at the regional and state competitions. There is no cost to participating schools, and each one receives a $250 donation from Pay Your Family First in addition to classroom resources that will be used to ensure the sustainability of the program. Every student participating in the competition will receive a take home copy of the ThriveTime for Teens game to share will family and peers.
 
Members of the Arizona State Society of CPA’s will provide volunteers to facilitate the competitions. Arizona schools interested in hosting a ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge, or organizations interested in supporting the events should contact Angela Totman at Pay Your Family First: angela@pyff.net or visit http://www.thrivetimechallenge.com

About Sharon Lechter and Pay Your Family First
Sharon Lechter is the co-author of the national bestseller Three Feet From Gold, international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 books in the internationally acclaimed Rich Dad series. Lechter recently annotated the never before published, Outwitting The Devil by legendary business and self-help author Napoleon Hill.
 
Pay Your Family First, founded by Lechter, empowers kids and their families with the confidence to tackle the complexities of fiscal responsibility while building stronger communities and a more secure future. PYFF uses a number of tools to fulfill the mission including the board game, ThriveTime For Teens, winner of a Mom’s Choice Award™ 2011.
 
Visit sharonlechter.com to learn more about Sharon Lechter, ThriveTime For Teens and Outwitting The Devil.
 
About Choices Educational Empowerment
Choices Education Empowerment Program, a 501 (c) 3 organization was launched in 2005 to equip youth with creative coping skills to their challenges, such as peer pressure and bullying. Promoting a message of positive thinking and self-esteem, actor and activist Tank Jones has made personal appearances in middle and high school assemblies across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Illinois.  More than 40 schools and 5,000 students attended the Choices Grand Assembly at Jobing.com Arena, along with guest speakers Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix Suns) and Sharon Lechter (New York Times best selling author). Empowering youth to embrace his signature “U-KAN!” message, Jones encourages children to practice work ethic, integrity and positive thinking as a path to school success and personal achievement.
 
Visit http://www.ItsYourChoices.org to learn more about Choices or to schedule a rally at your school.