Students Empower Change One Step at a Time!
I’m Jacklin Wang, founder of FLAME (Financial Literacy Advancement, Mentorship & Education)— a student-led initiative born from a simple question: What if we could help kids understand money early on?
In August 2024, I connected with Sam X Renick, creator of SammyRabbit.com, through LinkedIn. Sharing a common vision for financial literacy, I agreed that FLAME would participate in Sammy's Be the Change Financial Literacy Initiative, empowering college and high school students to deliver Sammy's Dream Big financial education curriculum to elementary students in the communities we serve.
Step 1
Hence, the FLAME planning and strategizing began. My team members and I mapped out the areas we wanted to serve and compiled a list of potential partners. The list included 325 schools, 30 libraries, and 65 nonprofits in Plano, Frisco, and Dallas in Texas.
Step 2
We then carefully crafted our outreach plan, supplementing it with lots of effort, determination, and hope. But rejection and barriers quickly followed. Hundreds of emails and calls went unopened and unanswered. It tested everything — our patience, persistence, and belief. Yet after months of relentless effort, eight doors finally opened — eight opportunities to plant seeds of financial literacy.
Step 3
Our first breakthrough came at Kiddie Academy in Frisco. Before every storytime, we built a full lesson plan — timing the reading, mapping out discussions, and lining up questions to push their thinking. One of our favorites: “How do you think Sammy Rabbit could save up for his trip?”
It got them imagining real strategies, not just repeating ideas.
Teaching these students taught me just as much. When I asked how they would save, their answers came fast—full of creativity and genuine excitement. Kids don’t need convincing to dream big; they just need someone to show them how to start.
By the end of the session, they didn’t just understand the lesson — they owned it. We left theclassroom chanting Sammy’s catchphrase together: “Save Money & Never Give Up On Your Dream!”
Final Thoughts
The six months leading up to that moment — over 15 internal team meetings, dozens of library visits, traveling city to city sharing FLAME’s and Sammy Rabbit’s mission — were worth it. Every smile, every eager nod, every student walking home with a copy of Sammy’s Big Dream made it worth it. Even if only one student had been truly impacted, every hour would have been worth it.
A big thank you to Mr. Renick — and to my FLAME team: Collin Ku, Asher Ridzinski, Kiran Parekh, and Ayaan Ahmad — for making this vision possible.
Summary and Scope of Impact
Connect with our Featured Guest Blogger
To learn more about Jacklin, connect with her on LinkedIn: Jacklin Wang!
Or read Jacklin's article: Becoming Financially Literate Since Age 9
Related Student-Led 'Be the Change' Projects
Teen Leader Reads Sammy's Big Dream to Elementary Students featuring Asher Ridzinski
University of Texas Student Led Be the Change Project: Bridging Dreams and Education featuring Summer Lakhani and Uswah Alpial
Sammy All Star Readers: Arin Wani reads Alexandar Who Used to be Rich Last Week
Join Us Scaling Change
Help us scale the impact of student-led projects like the FLAME & Sammy Rabbit citywide Financial Literacy Read and those shared above.
By investing in the next generation of changemakers, you’re not only supporting youth leadership—you’re planting the seeds of financial literacy, confidence, and empowerment in communities that need it most.
Your sponsorship can bring this powerful movement to more schools, more cities, and more children—one book, one student, one dream at a time.
Partner with us today. Be the Change. Reach out today!
Contact Team Sammy! We're here to help and share our 25 years of firsthand, 'in-the-trenches' experience. Together, let's make quality early-age and family financial literacy more accessible and impactful!
Email: contact@sammyrabbit.com
Website: Contact Form
Attention Young Leaders
We welcome and invite you to participate in Sammy's 'Be the Change' financial literacy initiative for college and high school students.
(1) Join peers advancing awareness on the importance of early age, youth, and family financial education by having your journey into financial literacy featured as a Sammy Rabbit Guest Blogger.
Index of Student Blogs (Click and scroll down)
(2) Then volunteer as a Sammy Rabbit Ambassador or Intern championing financial literacy in your community and around the globe! Learn more in these blogs or by CONTACTING Team Sammy today! We welcome your questions and suggestions on Sammy Rabbit and his mission to get kids, families & communities financially literate.
Additional Opportunities for Impact with Sammy Rabbit
For oppotunities to have impact in your community and with the audiences you serve, explore:
Back to School Sponsor Strategies that Boost Financial Literacy for Kids
Financial Education Projects You Can Emulate, Adapt, and Scale
Sammy Rabbit's Financial Education Project Menu
Sammy Rabbit's Sing, Learn, and Color About Money Program
Give Kids and Families Free Access to Financial Education Resources