Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Announces 2007 National Tour on Financial Empowerment: "Get Your Money Right"

From The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network:

Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Announces 2007 National Tour on Financial Empowerment: "Get Your Money Right"

· A Financial Literacy Life Raft for Generation of Youth Drowning in Debt
· Tour Convenes in Houston, Texas, Detroit, Mich., Greensboro, N.C., Washington, D.C., Miami, Fla. and Atlanta, Ga.

NEW YORK -- A national poll of youth taken recently by USA Today and the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) found 60 percent feel they are facing tougher financial pressures than young people did in previous generations. The 2007 Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) "Get Your Money Right" Financial Empowerment National Tour is a timely and proactive opportunity for young people across America to learn more about the important fundamentals of personal finance.

"'Get Your Money Right' continues to be our national theme for the financial empowerment Hip-Hop Summits," emphasized Russell Simmons. "Hip-hop is about eliminating poverty and ignorance, and we have found a creative and effective method of raising awareness about the importance of financial literacy. We are helping youth and young adults to fulfill their aspirations and lay a solid financial foundation for their future."
Thirty percent of young adults polled stated they worry frequently about their debt. "This generation of twentysomethings is straining under the weight of college loans and other debt, a crushing load that separates it from every previous generation," wrote USA Today's Mindy Fetterman and Barbara Hansen in a six part series with NEFE called "Young & In Debt."

"Being successful in life requires successful and sound financial management skills," said William F. Jones, Jr., Vice President -- Chrysler Financial "Chrysler Financial is deeply committed to providing these skills to young people, so they can position themselves to take charge of their future. Our partnership with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is one of the best ways to reach young people, through effective outreach and messages that will support their future achievements."

Following the tremendous success and positive feedback of both the 2005 and 2006 "Get Your Money Right" financial empowerment national tours, The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, along with title sponsor and partner Chrysler Financial and presenting sponsor Anheuser-Busch, Inc., are gearing up to launch the 2007 "Get Your Money Right" tour. The financial empowerment tour will kick off on March 3, 2007 at The Granville Sawyer Auditorium at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.

"The opportunity to live productively begins with a plan that mandates personal financial responsibility," said Johnny Furr, Vice President of Urban Marketing and Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "We consider it a real benefit to support HSAN's mission to provide young people with the tools, knowledge and inspiration they need to begin creating the futures they want tomorrow, today."

The 2007 tour will feature a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Co-Chairman of HSAN which will include Russell Simmons, Co-Chairman of HSAN, hip-hop artists and financial specialists, as well as a review the "Get Your Money Right" workbook, being produced and distributed by HSAN in both English and Spanish and is also available at www.hsan.org.

The "Get Your Money Right" tour will include stops in five additional cities, including April 14 in Detroit, Mich.; September 8 in Greensboro, N.C.; September 29 in Washington D.C.; October 20 in Miami, Fla. and November 3 in Atlanta, Ga. The agenda includes a focus on financial literacy, basics of banking, repairing and understanding credit scores, asset and wealth management, vehicle financing and home ownership.
"The good news is millions of young people want to avoid drowning in debt," declared Dr. Chavis. "The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is about taking back responsibility, and we're very grateful for the opportunity to continue to mobilize youth across America about financial empowerment."

For more information on the 2007 "Get Your Money Right" national tour, go to www.hsan.org.