GOODING
GOODING is an American musician and songwriter known for his “heart on his sleeve” live performances and for touring relentlessly through 48 states, the UK, and Canada with well over 2,000 shows under his belt. As a solo artist, he has written, recorded, produced, engineered, and mixed over 20 solo records - including the upcoming album The Forgotten Plains, out Fall 2023 - and 120 additional records for his film/tv publishing company Kingdom 2, earning over 1,000 sync placements making him one of the most prolific and most-licensed independent artists working today.
Gooding created Funding the Future based on stories he heard traveling across the country and his own mistakes growing up without financial education. The band covers topics such as following your passion; the importance of habits of self-reliance and self-control; earning, saving, spending, investing and giving; credit scores; loans and interest rates; compound interest, particularly for young people; financial pitfalls; patience and community mentorship.
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"There are no short cuts or quick fixes. The hype of overnight success in sports, music and acting can lead us to believe that our day to day discipline and the mentors in our own communities don’t have value, when these are THE MOST important resources we have."
— Gooding
Through a concert, multimedia presentation and talkback, this show covers the importance of developing good saving habits early, types of debt available to students, wise use of debt, the dangers of too much debt and high interest debt/payday lenders, how credit scores work, and how to control spending through tracking, budgeting and goal setting. Gooding suggests students look to their communities for support and mentorship, while he exposes the myth of rock stars, athletes and actors who sell the false image of overnight success.
Students who do not receive this message early may find themselves carrying too much debt, at risk of dropping out of college, or otherwise deferring their dreams. Young people from unbanked families are especially at risk.
"The concert was great, and the message you gave to us really helped me understand financial aid a lot better! I honestly love that you are doing this because I strongly believe the academics that are taught need to really help us be able to be successful when we turn into adults. Thank you helping us to make better choices when we are older!"
— 8th grader, L’Anse Creuse Middle School East, MA
"We need this type of education to be the generation that changes the world. Thank you for giving us that."
— Junior, Kearsley High School, Flint, MI
"You guys put the rock in rock ‘n’ roll! Getting to listen to each one of you play and share your financial advice was an amazing treat for me!
Especially since I like rock, but also to get great advice to help my wallet in the long run."
— Senior, Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody, GA
"I love your music. I think the way you guys go to different schools in different states and teach us how to start early with saving money so we can make a life and not to be struggling is amazing, and I love it!"
— Junior, Hinkley High School, Aurora, CO
