In a bustling classroom at Saint Frances Academy, the air buzzed with excitement. Dozens of high school seniors leaned forward, eyes wide, as a Merrill Lynch expert explained how to make a budget stick. “This is real life,” one student whispered to a friend, clutching a notebook filled with tips on managing money. Last week, this Baltimore school—where WNBA star Angel Reese once played basketball—became the launchpad for the Wealth Playbook, a financial literacy program created by Reese and NBA legend Magic Johnson. For these teens, it’s more than a class; it’s a chance to rewrite their futures.
Financial illiteracy is a quiet crisis for many young people, especially in underserved communities. With the Wealth Playbook, Johnson and Reese are stepping up to change that, one Baltimore senior at a time.
The Wealth Playbook is a four-session program designed to give high school seniors practical tools to manage money and build wealth. Launched through a partnership between the Magic Johnson Foundation, the Angel C. Reese Foundation, and community outreach group Pull Up Neighbor, the initiative kicked off at Saint Frances Academy, Reese’s alma mater. The program, supported by wealth management giant Merrill Lynch, teaches students how to budget, understand credit, save wisely, and plan for long-term financial security.
“The goal is simple,”
said a spokesperson for the Angel Reese Foundation.
“We want these kids to walk into adulthood knowing how to make their money work for them, not against them.”
The first session was a hit, with students diving into discussions about credit scores and the power of saving early. Organizers described the room as
“filled with energy, knowledge, and purpose.”
Throughout four sessions, the Wealth Playbook addresses the fundamentals of achieving financial independence. The program teaches individuals to develop a budget that meets needs and accommodates wants, decode credit reports, and make informed spending and saving choices. The program also addresses building wealth, such as investing and future planning. Each session reinforces the previous session, and when completed, students have an actionable plan for monetary success.
The first session, already held at Saint Frances, set the tone. Teens left with practical tips they could use right away, like tracking expenses or avoiding credit card debt. For many, it was their first exposure to these ideas.
Magic Johnson, a billionaire and former Los Angeles Lakers star, knows what it takes to turn talent into lasting success. Since founding the Magic Johnson Foundation in 1991, he’s worked to uplift urban communities through education and economic empowerment. His business ventures, including a stake in Equitrust, have grown his wealth to $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. For Johnson, the Wealth Playbook is personal—a chance to share the lessons that fueled his journey from the court to the boardroom.
Angel Reese, aged just 22, is already making an impact both on and off the court. The Chicago Sky’s forward, who led Saint Frances to three state championships, founded her foundation in 2023 to support girls and underprivileged communities. Born in Baltimore, Randallstown, Reese has roots in the city. She paid for the tuition of one student at her former school in 2023 with a $12,000 donation, which was out of gratitude for the support she herself enjoyed as a teenager.
“I want kids here to know they can dream big and still be smart about the money,”
Reese stated.
Baltimore is not just where the program begins—it’s home for Reese. Raised in Randallstown, she witnessed the reality of economic disadvantage. Saint Frances Academy, where she developed her basketball talent, is an appropriate place to begin for a program that seeks to break cycles of poverty. The city, as with many urban environments, suffers from gaps in money education, particularly among children in under-resourced neighborhoods. Beginning here, Reese and Johnson are making a statement: transformation takes hold where roots are deep.
This effort also marks an increasing trend among sports personalities who use their platforms for the good of society. From LeBron James’ I Promise School to the venture capital efforts of Serena Williams, sports celebrities are reframing the idea of giving back. For Johnson and Reese, it’s about preparing the future generation with the tools they need to succeed.
