A donor-funded initiative helps student-athletes gain skills to last a lifetime.
It’s a stressful life in so many ways. Student-athletes must balance time-intensive training schedules, the pressures of elite competition, and unrelenting national attention — all while excelling in the classroom at a top-tier university.
Now, add the ability to earn money through revenue sharing and influencer marketing partnerships, and it’s a lot for these young men and women to handle.
“These are 18- to 22-year-olds who may be seeing more money than they’ve ever seen before. We want to empower them to manage it responsibly,” explains Amy Landram, who oversees the Boundless Futures program, which supports Husky student-athletes’ personal, professional and leadership development.
Enter Jedidiah Collins, a former NFL fullback and Certified Financial Planner who walked away from his CFP role to become a financial educator. As a “Money Coach” to professional football, basketball and soccer players across the country, he brings credibility and relatability to the sessions he has already provided to some 450 Husky student-athletes.
Jedidiah teaches them to be “the CEOs of their lives.” The program builds upon the basics to later cover investing, credit cards, good debt and bad debt, how to buy a home, and more.
“In the collegiate sports landscape, students are expected to excel not only in competition and in the classroom but also in understanding the business around them,” explains Jedidiah. “Equipping these ‘Business-Athletes’ with sound financial knowledge empowers them to maximize their college years and builds a foundation for lasting financial success after their athletic careers end.”
Thanks to the generosity of Tyee Club members who support Boundless Futures, student-athletes learn quickly that they can use the same skills they have developed through years of sustained training and competition to manage their finances.
Husky Football’s Lowen Colman-Brusa says discipline is the most important thing he learned from the educational sessions. Holding himself accountable and making wise financial decisions helps him better represent his own brand and be a more confident representative of the University.
Volleyball’s Maija Howse agrees.
“I approach money more intentionally now — the same way I approach training. I plan ahead, focus on consistency, and think long-term instead of reacting in the moment,” she notes. “I think more about building wealth over time instead of just earning and spending. It’s made me more confident and less stressed about financial decisions.”
Help Boundless Futures provide student-athletes with professional and leadership development opportunities with a gift to The Go BIG! Fund today.
