Centennial High School freshman athlete Frankie Martinez is spearheading an initiative to promote financial literacy among his peers in the Peoria Unified School District.

Martinez and a group of Centennial football athletes will share their knowledge with the Glendale, Arizona Cactus High School Fall Athletics program and highlight the significance of managing personal budgets, Aug. 2.

By doing so, they will provide fellow student athletes with a new perspective on real-life financial management and empower them to embrace financial responsibility as they step into adulthood.

“I have friends who are going to Cactus High School, and I want them to be winners in all parts of their life,” Martinez said.

Martinez wasted no time teaming up with Centennial football head coach Richard Taylor and his teammates to extend the impact of this initiative.

In the previous year, Taylor set the stage for the inaugural Financial Fitness in Action event, emphasizing the significance of guiding students both on and off the field.

This year's event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Arizona Council on Economic Education, a nonprofit committed to advancing financial education among Arizona students. The event will feature a special guest address by Riczer Desvaristes, former Arizona Cardinal youth high school manager and new director of football engagement for the Vbro Fiesta Bowl, who will share his career journey and personal finance freedom story.

Glendale city council member Ray Malnar will conclude the event with insights on personal finance.