Stoudemire talks to youth about financial responsibility

Just so you know, Amar'e Stoudemire can see clearly now. The Suns forward-center is back to his full off-season workout, but will spend just as much time this summer building his brand and giving back to the community.

Stoudemire made a visit to Atlanta this week to host an Economic Empowerment Summit (EEI) at the New Schools of Carver, School of the Arts (a magnet school part of the Atlanta Public Schools system.) The program's mission is to help students understand how to manage and build financial resources.

In early 2009, Stoudemire decided to partner his own "Each One Teach One" Foundation with the EEI program because he heard about the outstanding achievements the school in Atlanta had accomplished since it started four years ago.

"So it was a natural connection for what they are achieving in education and that's what my foundation is all about," Stoudemire said.

Stoudemire first launched his "Each One Teach One" Foundation in 2005, but he says it is just now starting to evolve into his overall intention.

"What we do is travel across the world and help out areas in need," Stoudemire said. "In particular, Africa's Sierra Leone. What we're trying to do now in the U.S. is to educate the youth; and for the global stuff, we're going to Africa to build the economy."

In the 2008 off-season, Stoudemire made a trip to Sierra Leone that changed his life. He helped build a water well for a village that used its own waste to nurture themselves. He now has started a project to build his first school in Africa, and was named an official ambassador for the country of Sierra Leone, a role he takes very seriously.

"Now we really have the guide work as far as giving back to the country and to build the country up. So I think the next step is to bring awareness to Sierra Leone."

At the Summit held in Atlanta, Stoudemire was joined by a panel of six other financial experts and community leaders and spoke to a group of seniors about how to make smart moves with money. He also announced the launch of his "Amar'e Card", a pre-paid visa debit card targeted for youth to teach them the basics on budgeting and balancing their finances.

"It's a brilliant idea I think," Stoudemire said. "It's created to help the financial status of the young youth. That's our target, but adults can get involved in it too. It's a debit card with no tricks or hidden fees. It won't allow you to overdraw, so you won't get hit with those extra fees. And it's free."

Music is another thing that Stoudemire loves. At the end of last year he launched his Hypocalypto record label.

"My role model was Tupac Shakur growing up and that is how I first connected to music," he said. "I grew up loving music and all types of music. My passion for music is very high and I wanted to get involved in it."

During the event, Stoudemire's Foundation donated a $5,000 check to help the school's music studio. He also introduced his record label's first signed artist, Juice, and announced Juice would open for the popular rap star T.I. in a concert this weekend at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA.

On giving back, Stoudemire said, "When I was growing up, I really didn't cherish education like I should have. Now that I'm an adult, I try to learn as much as I can. It's like a constant goal for me to learn more. So I want the youth now to pick up on what I'm feeling early."

Stoudemire has plans to continue building his brand and giving back to community with scheduled trips to China and the UK this summer. But Suns fans don't have to worry about him being distracted because he can see clearly now and is back on his regular training routine.