Story by Molly Garriott • Photos by John Gawley A Entertainment and Secret Millionaires Club producer Andy Heyward addresses the crowd at the awards ceremony held in Omaha May 21st. 2
Heyward covered the former criteria; he deferred to Omaha billionaire Warren Buffett for the latter. “I knew the quality of Andy’s body of work and thought a partnership was a good idea,” says Buffett, who’s asked on a regular basis to dole out his financial advice on cable business shows, Sunday morning news programs, and even to those holding the highest office in the country. When broached with the idea of contributing to a kids’ web series, the financial titan was more than happy to share words of monetary wisdom with today’s young people. “Mr. Buffett found time to not only say ‘yes’ [to Secret Millionaires Club], but he read every script and did every recording” for the 26 webisodes, says Heyward. Now the webisodes have made their way to cable television on The HUB Network, increasing the potential to reach even more children with their fiscal management lessons. Heyward describes Secret Millionaires Club as an entertaining and enlightening show for kids, one that introduces youth to fundamental business concepts, the importance of investing, and key points of financial literacy. With Buffett as the lead character, the SMC series was sure to draw some media attention. But how to present the material in www.ReadOnlineNow.com
Mike Dean, left, and Ken Chaplin, right, both with Experian Consumer Direct, present individual winner Aria Eppinger of Pittsburgh with a $5,000 check. Experian owns CreditReport.com, exclusive sponsor of the Secret Millionaires Club Learn and Earn promotion.
Four students from Queens, New York, who won for their business Deals on Wheels, eagerly show off their team-winning check for $20,000. a manner appealing to kids? Buffett was talking to his grandson’s fifth grade class at Dundee Elementary when he happened upon the hook quite by accident. He was sharing his business knowledge and noticed his audiences’ eyes glazing over with apparent boredom. However, interest piqued when he mentioned the “secret” formula behind Coca-Cola, one of his company Berkshire Hathaway’s biggest stock holdings. The secrecy concept captured their fancy. “Their eyes lit up. ‘Secret’ is a magic word” to kids, Buffett discovered. So he suggested that the word ‘Secret’ be added to the Millionaires Club moniker to draw viewers further into the story. Last year, Secret Millionaires Club launched its first “Grow Your Own Business Challenge.” Based on the SMC, children ages 7-16 were encouraged to submit entrepreneurial business ideas in a Learn and Earn national contest, sponsered by CreditReport.com. Entries were judged on three criteria: uniqueness of concept, depth and description of new business, and feasibility >> july/august • 2012 33