FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 14, 2013
CONTACT:
Valerie Wickboldt
vwickboldt@jamesmadison.org
(850) 386-3131
CFO Jeff Atwater to Present “Thrift Week” Proclamation;
JMI Reaches Thousands of Students through Thrift-Promoting Curriculum
~Florida’s CFO and The James Madison Institute reiterate the importance of teaching financial responsibility through a series of activities during “Thrift Week”~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today at 4:00 p.m. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater will present an official proclamation signed by Governor Rick Scott and his entire Cabinet designating Jan. 17-23 as “Thrift Week” in Florida. The proclamation will be presented to Dr. J. Robert McClure, president and CEO of The James Madison Institute (JMI), whose organization is spearheading efforts in Florida to revive a cultural appreciation for thrift – the wise use of economic resources. The proclamation calls thrift “the antidote to the high levels of debt and economic uncertainty currently plaguing our nation.” It also encourages Floridians to cultivate the three traits historically associated with thrift: industriousness, frugality, and generosity. “Thrift and saving are integral components of any financial plan and the root of long-term financial success for families, businesses and individuals,” said CFO Atwater. “If we each make a daily choice of responsible financial habits, then we can battle the increasing debt and economic uncertainty facing our nation.”JMI will officially kick off Thrift Week 2013 on Thur., Jan. 17 by sponsoring a special program at Killearn Lakes Elementary School in Tallahassee. The program will feature Ben Franklin re-enactor Lloyd Wheeler, who will lead students in a thrift-themed quiz game “R U Smarter than a Franklin County 5th Grader?” This quiz game, which was first played at a 2012 Thrift Week kickoff event at the Franklin County Public School, celebrates Ben Franklin’s role as America’s foremost proponent of thrift. Thrift Week events have always historically been tied to Ben Franklin’s birthday on Jan. 17.In addition to the quiz game, the use of JMI’s supplemental curriculum, All About the Benjamins: Understanding the Value of Thrift will be expanded to students all over Florida. Made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation, this curriculum is once again being produced in association with the News-in-Education programs at newspapers around the state. To date, All About the Benjamins has reached more than 300,000 Florida students. Complementing this special curriculum, JMI will be releasing a series of eye-catching infographics designed to help Floridians better understand and appreciate “What Thrift Is,” “Why Thrift Matters,” and “The History of Thrift Week.” JMI will also be using social media to promote all of our efforts, including the infographics and a series of Franklin’s wise sayings throughout Thrift Week, including “Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”“Benjamin Franklin recognized that it is just as important for Americans to have economic freedom from debt and dependency, as it is to have political freedom,” noted Dr. McClure. “We are pleased that Gov. Scott, CFO Atwater, and other Florida leaders are helping JMI promote the virtues of economic freedom by recognizing Thrift Week 2013 in such a way. We are excited to continue our efforts promoting this time-honored concept across the state and through the next generation of Floridians.”For more information on JMI and this program, visit www.jamesmadison.org. To follow along with JMI’s Thrift Week activities, including the release of our infographics, follow us on Twitter: @JmsMadisonInst and “like” us on Facebook:facebook.com/JamesMadisonInstitute.
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Trusted Solutions for a Better Florida: Founded in 1987, The James Madison Institute (JMI) is Florida’s oldest and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization. JMI is dedicated to advancing such ideals as economic freedom, limited government, federalism, traditional values, the rule of law, and individual liberty coupled with individual responsibility. All JMI publications are available online at www.jamesmadison.org. For additional information please contact Valerie Wickboldt at 850.386.3131 or vwickboldt@jamesmadison.org. Twitter: @JmsMadisonInst; Facebook: facebook.com/JamesMadisonInstitute; Reporting: www.CapitolVanguard.org.
View Press Release:
“CFO Atwater to Present JMI with ‘Thrift Week’ Proclamation” Press Release (PDF)
2013
