In collaboration with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative and the New Orleans Saints, Intuit hosted a Financial Literacy Forum on Feb. 4, 2025, as part of the Super Bowl LIX festivities in New Orleans. This event marked the kickoff of Intuit’s nationwide forum series leading up to Financial Literacy Month in April.
Three New Orleans schools participated, each bringing about 120 high school students and their teachers. The event introduced essential financial concepts in an engaging and interactive format. Students engaged in a panel discussion featuring New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and LSU basketball star Flau’jae Johnson, who shared personal insights and experiences on the importance of financial literacy and how to achieve financial goals.
Following the discussion, students participated in three hands-on breakout sessions covering budgeting, credit, and taxes, using interactive simulations and gamified learning experiences. The event concluded with a tailgate-style celebration featuring music and entertainment, reinforcing that learning financial literacy can be enjoyable. This event is the first in a series of Financial Literacy Forums that will take place across the country as part of Intuit’s broader mission to empower 50 million students with financial literacy education by 2030.
Similar forums are scheduled in the San Francisco Bay Area in collaboration with the San Francisco 49ers (March 21), Washington, D.C. with the Washington Commanders (March 26), Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Clippers (April 1), and San Antonio during the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest (April 4-7).
In a Zoom interview, Dave Zasada, Vice President of Education and Corporate Responsibility at Intuit, discussed the purpose of the forum series. Ultimately, these financial literacy forums are designed to introduce students to critical personal finance concepts.
We hope to interest them enough to inspire them to want to learn more,” Zasada said.
Financial literacy forum engages New Orleans students
The company also developed a platform offering over 150 hours of free personal and entrepreneurial finance resources.
According to Zasada, the platform has been used by over two million students since its launch over a year ago. As part of its commitment to expanding financial literacy, Intuit also announced the launch of the Hour of Finance Challenge, a free interactive competition designed for middle and high school students. The challenge offers real-world lessons on key financial topics, including taxes, budgeting, and investments, all designed to be completed in under an hour.
It allows students to apply their knowledge practically while competing for prizes. While these initiatives are promising, there’s still a need for more comprehensive integration of financial literacy into the education system. Only 26 states require high school students to complete a personal finance course before graduating, typically limited to a single semester.
Given the complexity of personal finance, a more in-depth curriculum may be necessary. Moreover, financial literacy should be viewed as a lifelong skill, beneficial not only to students but to adults who face challenges such as managing debt, planning for retirement, and navigating homeownership. Expanding financial literacy education to include accessible resources for adults would ensure that people of all ages can develop the skills necessary to make informed financial choices.
Employers, community organizations, and government programs should prioritize continuous financial education. With Financial Literacy Month approaching in April, these initiatives aim to spark a broader conversation about the importance of financial education nationwide. Educators, policymakers, and organizations must collaborate to ensure students and adults can access quality financial education resources.
