Will There Be an Oscar the Banker?

Sesame Street

Don't be surprised if in the near futureyour preschooler starts talking to you aboutsaving and spending. Although there's achance that you could be raising the nextWarren Buffett, it's more likely that they'resimply reaping the benefits of a recent educationalmerger between two US powerhouses.Sesame Workshop (www.sesameworkshop.org), the nonprofit organizationthat produces the hit children's TV show, has joined forces withinvestment banker Merrill Lynch to tacklethe issue of financial literacy. According to arecent Sesame Workshop press release, oneof the goals of the initiative is to help children"develop good financial habits thatlead to economic independence." MerrillLynch has donated $5 million to the organizationto achieve that goal, and will besending employee volunteers from theirNorth American, South American, European,and Asian offices to local preschools, childcareagencies, and community centers tohelp children understand money matters.