BBVA Compass teamed up with WNBA and NBA stars Thursday to share with students at Machan Elementary School in Phoenix the importance of financial literacy and how a solid foundation can open doors to a brighter future.

The event was part of the BBVA Compass Future Builders Program, which uses EverFi’s web-based financial literacy program to teach students healthy financial habits and basic money management skills at an early age. The Official Bank of the NBA, BBVA Compass recruited two-time gold medalist and longtime WNBA forward DeLisha Milton-Jones, local legend and current WNBA guard Briann January, and NBA legend and current community ambassador Steven Hunter to lend a hand at the event, which was emceed by a familiar voice in Phoenix sports: NBA legend and current local announcer Eddie Johnson.

“We’re proud to partner with the WNBA and NBA to bring basketball stars like DeLisha and Briann directly from the basketball court into the classrooms at Machan to educate young students about the importance of leading fiscally responsible lives,” said BBVA Compass Phoenix CEO Brad Parker. “In Phoenix, we’ve been able to reach more than 1,000 students through this program, and it’s only the beginning.”

Since 2013, the joint financial literacy initiative has reached more than 65,699 students across the bank’s footprint at no cost to the schools — many of them located in low-income communities.

BBVA Compass, the WNBA and the NBA donated 36 tablets and one tablet charging cart to Machan. The WNBA players and NBA legends also visited classrooms and computer labs, where they talked to students about the importance of staying in school.

“The lessons of working, giving, saving and spending are critical tools that need to be taught to our students,” said Julie Frost, principal of Machan. “Our goal, through all of our programs, is to have students relate what they are learning inside the classroom to the world outside the four walls. We are very grateful to work with community partners like BBVA Compass, the WNBA and NBA to

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