Aspen Institute To Hold Conversation on "Raising a Nation of Savers"

Breakfast dialogue to take place Wednesday morning

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security (Aspen IFS) hosts a breakfast discussion today at the Aspen Institute headquarters on Raising a Nation of Savers: Kindergarten, College, and Lifelong Savings. San Francisco's Treasurer Jose Cisneros will discuss Kindergarten to College, the first universal and automatic child savings accounts program. Philip English, co-chairman of the government relations practice at Arent Fox, and former Congressman 1995-2009 (R-PA), and David Soo, senior adviser for financial literacy at the US Department of Education, will reflect on the Kindergarten to College program and discuss the potential of child savings accounts to instill lifelong savings habits and strengthen financial security for Americans. Lisa Mensah, executive director of the Aspen IFS, will moderate the conversation.

"Programs like K2C make the dream of college a reality from the very first day of school. Today, every kindergartener who enters public school in San Francisco receives a college savings account in his or her name with a $50 deposit from the City and County of San Francisco and incentives like a dollar for dollar savings match to help their family save early and often for college," said Jose Cisneros.

"The time was right for child savings policies when I co-sponsored the ASPIRE Act in 2004, 2005, and 2007, and the time is still right today. Given the challenges our country faces from an economic standpoint, child savings accounts are a smart investment in America's future," said Phil English.

"Children can and should be taught lessons of financial literacy. With guidance and opportunity, young people can harness their natural creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to make sound financial decisions from an early age," David Soo commented.

"Child savings account policies are a bold approach to jumpstart American financial security, and they have historically received bipartisan support. Not only do child savings accounts build funds for the future, but also these accounts have demonstrably increased academic aspirations," remarked Lisa Mensah.

Event Details:
Title: Raising a Nation of Savers: Kindergarten, College, and Lifelong Savings
Date and time: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 | 8:00-9:30am
Location: The Aspen Institute
One Dupont Circle, NW
Suite 700
Washington DC, 20036

For additional information about the Raising a Nation of Savers event and the work of the Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security, please contact Colby Farber at 202.736.2533 or at [email protected].

About Aspen IFS:
The Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security (Aspen IFS) is a leading policy program dedicated to helping bring about the policies and financial products that enable all Americans to save, invest, and own. For more information about Aspen IFS and its work, please visit www.aspenifs.org.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

SOURCE The Aspen Institute