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Walton Family Foundation Gives $2M to Economics Arkansas

2 min read

The Walton Family Foundation said Thursday that it awarded a $2 million lead donation to endow the Economics Arkansas Foundation, which aims to advance financial and economic literacy in Arkansas education through the Economics Arkansas program.

“We are deeply humbled by this generous gift,” said Sue Owens, executive director of Economics Arkansas. “We hope their lead gift will encourage other donors to consider supporting the exciting plans we have to expand our programs and training.”

Established earlier this year, the Economics Arkansas Foundation wants to establish an $8 million endowment to help the Economics Arkansas program execute its new strategic plan, which will be finalized by year end.  

The foundation, led by Ray Hobbs, Wes Kemp and Jim Wooten, said it will add additional board members soon.  

Economics Arkansas has grown from training 1,000 PreK-12 teachers annually in 2004 to almost 2,000 in 2016. But the nonprofit aims to do more.

“With over 30,000 teachers in the state, we are just scratching the surface,” Owens said. “The future of our state and nation depends on young people having higher levels of economic and financial literacy when they leave school and enter a global economy.”

The endowment will support a strategic plan that aims to:

  • Maximize effectiveness and reach to teachers and students; demonstrate return-on-investment.
  • Advance financial and economic literacy in Arkansas PreK-12 education.
  • Ensure the future of Economics Arkansas.

Economics Arkansas was founded as the Arkansas Council on Economic Education in 1962 by Arch Ford and Bessie B. Moore. Owens has served for the past 12 years and is currently president of the National Association of Economic Educators.

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