Military Saves, the annual campaign to encourage service members and their families to reduce debt and increase wealth, wrapped up its annual campaign throughout Southern California March 5.
Events at local Navy and Marine Corps facilities drew more than 2,300 attendees this year, organizers said, far exceeding turnout in previous years.
Nearly 1,000 people attended the Military Saves seminar at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and over 500 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, setting the bar very high for next year's campaign, said Dana Ross, the Military Saves coordinator from San Diego’s Fleet and Family Support Center.
"This success, and any we may have in following years’ Military Saves efforts, is due primarily to the actions of those leaders in uniform who encourage, exhort and even direct their personnel to attend."
Ross said the highlight of the campaign was a closing seminar at Murphy Canyon Chapel March 4, attended by over 300 people.
"This was ten times as many that have attended any previous year's evening Military Saves event," he explained. "Attendees were primarily couples and spouses of deployed military personnel, all attending by choice, and most staying long after the presentations were finished for the question-and-answer period."
Keynote speakers for the 2010 campaign were Kelvin Boston, host of the PBS series "Moneywise," and Peter G. Bielagus, popular regarded as "young America's financial coach."
Ross said both speakers had valuable and useful information for audiences regarding financial stability.
"Attendees paid close attention to, then asked for amplifying information on specific actions they could take to reduce their debt, increase their credit scores, and develop long term wealth. The message all took away from Mr. Kelvin Boston is to fearlessly and purposefully start today in reducing debts, increasing savings, and start sound long term investing."
Bielagus also gave the crowds very practical financial guidance and invited to personally keep in touch with him to discuss potential personal financial success.
Suzanne Mcguire, a local ombudsman and Navy spouse, said she attended the event for two reasons: to provide information for fellow ombudsmen and families who couldn't attend, and for personal reasons. She said she loved Boston's presentation and honed in specifically on maintaining a healthy savings account.
She added that Sailors are fortunate to have so many benefits and options available to them to help build and maintain financial wealth.
For more details on financial workshops and other financial resources, contact your local FFSC or log onto www.cnrsw.navy.mil/fsc/financial.asp.
