Grant Thornton names 20th Purple Paladin: Money Magnets Club

Grant Thornton, one of America’s largest brands for auditing, assurance, tax and advisory services, has Money Magnet Club to his Purple Paladin Program. Through this program, Grant Thornton helps emerging nonprofits evolve from “startup to unstoppable company” by providing funding, business advice and volunteer support, while helping nonprofits raise awareness of their work and mission.

Money Magnets Club, Grant Thornton’s 20th^th Founded in 2022, Purple Paladin aims to provide basic financial education and entrepreneurial skills to elementary school children and their families. The organization recognizes the critical role of financial literacy in breaking the cycle of poverty and focuses on underserved communities, particularly in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since its inception, the program has supported over 600 children and families.

“Our goal is to not only teach children the financial and entrepreneurial skills that will help them find their own path to success, but also to help them speak up and gain confidence in their potential,” says Alexandra Arrington, co-founder and executive director of the Money Magnets Club.

Arrington felt that she was unable to realize her ambitions as an entrepreneur earlier in her life because she did not learn the skills that her organization is teaching her today.

“I’ve seen how much learning about finance and practicing entrepreneurship has changed my attitude toward work, the value of time and money, and my financial stability later in life – and how it can help people from low-income families build a new future for themselves,” Arrington said. “All children deserve these opportunities, and that starts with learning.”

The Money Magnets Club’s flagship Kidpreneur-in-Training program consists of six sessions and teaches kids money management skills, budgeting techniques and entrepreneurial insights. Participants explore their interests and turn them into viable business ideas, building their confidence and self-assurance along the way.

CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC Seth Siegel recognizes the transformative impact of the Money Magnets Club initiatives.

“In our industry, we know how important financial literacy is in both work and personal life – and the earlier children learn these skills, the better,” said Siegel. “We are proud to support Money Magnets Club’s efforts to provide children with developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive financial education and entrepreneurship programs, helping to build a more stable future for families and communities.”

To learn more about the Money Magnets Club, visit https://www.moneymagnetsclub.org/.

Money Magnets Club joins 19 other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations previously selected by Grant Thornton as Purple Paladins, including:

• 51 Vets – helps special operations veterans transition from the military to leadership positions in the private sector. For more information, visit 51vets.org.
• Alley-Oop Kids – advocates for equal opportunities in sports by using “loan lockers” to provide sports equipment and supplies to under-resourced schools and youth organizations. For more information, visit alleyoopkids.org.
• MBC Travelers – supports metastatic breast cancer survivors by creating unforgettable travel experiences and connections. For more information visit www.mbctravelers.com.
• I Got THIS Foundation – inspires young golfers and educates the public about opportunities for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. For more information visit igotthis.foundation.
• Women in Training – committed to ending ‘period poverty’. For more information visit www.womenintraining.org.
• Digs with Dignity – helps the homeless improve their lives by refurbishing their homes to become dignified homes. For more information visit digswithdignity.org.
• Fair Opportunity Project – provides high-quality college advising resources to prospective students at no cost. For more information, visit fairopportunityproject.org.
• Free Mom Hugs – creates allies to support the LGBTQIA+ community through visibility, education, and conversation. For more information visit www.freemomhugs.org.
• WeaveTales – helps refugees of all kinds share their stories through books, exhibitions, films and other channels. For more information visit weavetales.org.
• Warrior Reunion Foundation – brings veterans back together through life-changing reunion experiences. All events are free to participants. For more information, visit warriorreunionfoundation.org.
• Go Team Therapy Dogs – trains highly trained therapy dogs and places them at disaster sites, hospitals, and other locations where they can provide comfort and care. For more information, visit goteamdogs.org.
• Find Your Anchor – focuses on suicide prevention. To help people who have lost hope, the organization compiles and distributes select items called “anchors.” For more information, visit findyouranchor.us.
• Foster Nation – helps former foster children overcome the challenges associated with “growing out” of the foster care system. For more information, visit fosternation.org.
• Hope in a Box – provides educators with literature, detailed curriculum, and coaching to improve classroom environments for LGBTQIA+ students. For more information, visit www.hopinabox.org.
• Weird Enough Productions – develops free, interactive online content to counter media misrepresentation of minority communities. The organization is best known for its legendary comic book series, The UnCommons. For more information, visit strangely.com.
• Invisible Hands Deliver – employs more than 12,000 volunteers to deliver food, medicine and other essentials to people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and suffering from hunger – including the elderly, people with disabilities and those with compromised immune systems. For more information, visit invisiblehandsdeliver.org.
• Pal Experiences – helps people with invisible disabilities – like autism – have more inclusive experiences in museums, entertainment venues, sporting events and more. For more information, visit palexperiences.org.
• Sneakers for Soldiers – provides well-fitting athletic shoes for deployed combat troops of all branches of the military. For more information, visit sneakersforsoldiers.org.
• Coming Up Rosies – provides “Smile Kits” to hospitals so that children – especially those suffering from hair loss – can participate in therapeutic art activities and create custom head scarves, bandanas and superhero capes based on their own unique designs. For more information visit www.cominguprosies.com.

The name of Grant Thornton’s Purple Paladins program is derived from the word paladina champion of a cause. Grant Thornton and its professionals have donated more than $1 million to Purple Paladin nonprofits, and more than 650 Grant Thornton professionals have volunteered their time and skills to support the company’s Purple Paladins.

To learn more about Purple Paladins or to suggest a nonprofit for possible support, visit the Grant Thornton website: www.grantthornton.com/PurplePaladins.