Saving for the Future

The 552 students at Walter Bracken Elementary School have no idea how lucky they are to be able to participate in the “The Piggy Bank,” a new program from the United Way of Southern Nevada teaching them how to save money while learning how a bank operates. When I was in sixth grade my parents opened a bank account for me and my siblings at Silver State Schools Credit Union (I still have my savings account) and I remember feeling very grown up at the time. Unfortunately, that’s where it ended. With my parents, and they did the best they could with teaching us the importance of financial freedom. If only this program was around when I was younger I might have had a better grasp of money management as I got older (luckily for me, my boyfriend has a degree in finance and he is a stickler at holding me accountable for my spending ~ thanks babe. I’m almost debt free!)

Volunteers from United Way’s Young Philanthropists Society, the elementary school, Anderson Foundation, Junior Achievement, and my childhood bank came together to build a student bank at the school allowing them the opportunity to get the full experience. Every Friday for one hour they go to the bank and interact with volunteers serving as bank tellers, get deposit slips and bank statements and see savings reminder decals on the walls, in addition to attending educational money management sessions and having a TV showing each classrooms account balance. The payoff outside of the priceless education is an actual account opened by the United Way on behalf of the school with deposits made for the students by the Young Philanthropists Society volunteers.

This program is necessary and should be in every school.

Thank you for reading

Adrienne xo

Thank You @GeneralElectric!

Who doesn’t love a little unexpected recognition? This is exactly what I received last week after posting I was at 24 Hour Fitness on Foursquare. To my surprise, General Electric sent me a tweet and our conversation went a little like this:

GE: Enjoy your workout, Adrienne! What does your work out consist of?
AH: Lots of cardio. I love it!
GE: We like your dedication to fitness, Adrienne! Would you mind following @GeneralElectric so we can send you a DM? 

At that point I followed GE and waited for my message which was asking for my mailing address. Today I received a note of encouragement and a lovely basket of healthy nuts, dehydrated fruit, granola and crackers to encourage healthy eating habits.

It’s the little things in life-like being recognized by a company ranked number six on the Fortune 500 list to make working out worth it a bit more.

Thanks again!

Adrienne xo

Condè Nast Traveler Gold List Party

Like I said before, any reason to get together with friends and celebrate is a good reason. Last month, a few of us had a great time inside Hyde Bellagio with Condè Nast Traveler magazine as the publication celebrated its eighteenth annual Gold List, a reader’s poll recognizing  elite resorts, cruise lines and hotel around the world.

Event model at Hyde Bellagio

Me and my boyfriend James who is a Process Improvement Analyst and Six Sigma Site Leader at Medco Health Solutions

Brad Masterson, Vice President Y Public Relations and his lovely wife Yvette, somewhere schmoozing, extended the invitation.

The lovely Celena Haas, Director of Public Relations Harrah's Entertainment

Jay Alpert, Public Relations Manager Station Casinos and partner Dr. Blaze Gusic, MD

Chris Kratochwill, Technical Service Manager CityCenter and his fashionable wife Jenn, Public Relations Director Nevada Ballet Theatre

Jenn, Me, Vegas Magazine Editor in Chief Abbey Tegnelia and Beth Schwartz editor at Luxury Magazine

Ogonna Atamoh Associate Attorney at Law at Santoro, Driggs, Walch, Kearney, Holley & Thompson and James

Me with my sweet friend and recently engaged sbe Hyde Bellagio Director of Sales and owner of Andrea Eppolito Events

Me, James and my AKA Sorority sister Kenadie Cobbin-Richardson

My two favorite people Ryan Slattery, Managing Editor at Onboard Media and international traveler Rei Bollozos

Jennifer Ruliffson- Gross my friend from high school

Thank you for reading.

Adrienne xo