Money Trees

The Problem

Financial illiteracy among teenagers has reached crisis levels, with only half of U.S. states mandating financial education courses. Local assessment data revealed that only 55% of students scored above 70% on basic financial literacy tests. This knowledge gap has real consequences: student loan debt has tripled since 2007, and Virginia's average student debt increased by $250 between 2021 and 2022 alone. Young people are entering adulthood without the fundamental skills needed to budget, save, and invest responsibly.

The Solution

As part of a founding team, I helped launch Money Trees, a free community service initiative designed to teach teenagers essential financial literacy skills through an interactive, multi-phase curriculum. We began by surveying 131 students to understand their needs and preferences, then developed tailored educational content optimized for short attention spans. The program's centerpiece was a financial simulator game built in Unity that placed users in realistic scenarios with everyday financial obstacles, providing hands-on experience in a risk-free environment. We complemented the digital tool with both virtual and in-person workshops and seminars that encouraged collaborative learning. To maximize reach, we expanded through social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok, recruited brand ambassadors, and established strategic partnerships with other youth organizations.

The Outcome

The program successfully engaged students through gamified learning while operating on a lean budget of $340, which covered the Unity software license and promotional materials. Post-lesson assessments demonstrated improved knowledge retention, and the personalized curriculum approach effectively differentiated Money Trees from existing financial literacy programs. By combining entrepreneurial strategies with community service goals, the initiative provided accessible financial education to teenagers who otherwise lacked access to these critical life skills. This project was presented at DECA's State Leadership Conference (SLC), where we placed in the top 7 as state finalists and qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), where we competed on the international stage.