LaDonna Smith – Workplace Finance Speaker

Bio

LaDonna Smith is the author of the children’s picture book titled “The Money Tree”, which won the 2014 Financial Literacy Children’s Book of The Year Award from the Institute for Financial Literacy. The Money Tree explains basic financial concepts and practices in plain and easy to understand language that children can comprehend and use in their day-to-day lives. The clear text and playful illustrations aim to simplify financial concepts like earning, saving, interest, the difference between needs and wants, and the joy of running one’s own business. To make the otherwise boring topic interesting, the concepts have been explained through small anecdotes accompanied with colorful illustrations to stimulate children and ignite a love of saving.

Along with the release of The Money Tree, LaDonna recently launched a program called S.T.A.R.T (Savings Today And Riches Tomorrow) where she has partnered up with both schools and banks in an effort to provide students in grades k-5 with high-energy and interactive financial literacy workshops. During S.T.A.R.T workshops, students assume a new identity with a career, family, and financial responsibilities. Students work independently and in small groups to make choices about spending and saving. Students will experience budgeting, decision making, and have the opportunity to make wise financial choices or not! S.T.A.R.T workshops are designed to help students better understand the importance of good money habits.

LaDonna hopes to educate youth from all walks of life on how to find their path to financial empowerment.