21 Savage
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21 Savage Pledges Money To Financially Responsible Kids, Continues Literacy Campaign
GRAMMY-nominated "Bank Account" rapper 21 Savage has donated money to financially responsible students after holding a literacy workshop and participating in other youth events in Atlanta last week.
The rapper held a 21 Century Banking Workshop as a part of his Bank Account financial campaign with nonprofit organizations Get Schooled and Juma to continue bringing financial management resources to youth in Atlanta, instructing 40 students during a second phase, according to Rolling Stone. He also partnered with Congressman Hank Johnson and spoke with students about the negative effects of gang violence and gun violence, taught financial literacy to fourth graders, and paid visits to classrooms to highlight career paths in the music industry at Camp Jewell House Academy school.
21 Savage gave $100 per student who attended the event and opened a bank account, Rolling Stone also reports. In order to keep students educated, he created monthly lessons on earning income, budgeting and more on the Get Schooled website.
The rapper first began the campaign in March 2018. According to research, many Americans lack "basic levels of financial literacy." Only 19 percent of high school graduates have basic financial knowledge, while only 65 percent of Americans with graduate degrees do. Surveys show that blacks and Latinos have less knowledge of debt and other financial knowledge than white Americans. Congressman Johnson highlighted the benefits of learning about money management at an early age.
"Learning the invaluable lessons of financial literacy at an early age is critical to helping our young people grow and thrive as adults, and close the wealth gap with their peers,” he said. “Last year, I had the privilege of participating in one of 21 Savage’s philanthropic enterprises."
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The rapper, who was born in the U.K. and released from ICE custody in February after being detained, has been open about not knowing much about financial responsibility growing up.
"To really get ahead, you need to know how to manage your money, not just make it," Savage said at the event. "As I have gotten smarter about financial management, I realize how important it is to control your money rather than be controlled by it. I want to help kids with a background similar to mine to get smart about their money."
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