Let the countdown begin.
One month from today, leaders from Congress, the Biden Administration, the federal judiciary and the Washington press corps will be participating in the ACLI Capital Challenge road race in Washington D.C.
After this year’s celebrity runner Camille Herron blows the whistle at 8 a.m. to start the race, the fastest runners will blaze the out-and-back three-mile course in about 15 minutes. The more leisurely walkers might take up to an hour. But before you know it, everyone will be heading back to Capitol Hill or 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. or wherever their work takes them these days.
And with that, the 42nd running of the ACLI Capital Challenge will be over. But its impact will last much longer.
That’s because race proceeds go to support Junior Achievement USA and its financial education programs for kids across the nation. JA programs reach more than 4.4 million students in all 50 states.
At the race two years ago, I presented a check to JA for $75,000. Last year, the check was $150,000.
And that number is sure to grow on May 15, thanks to all of the participants and a record number of ACLI member company sponsors.
Life insurers are committed to improving financial literacy because a strong financial education is the foundation for a lifetime of security and certainty. A recent study revealed that people with a very low level of financial literacy are more than four times as likely to have difficulty making ends meet in a typical month than those with a very high level. And more than one-third of financial inequality in the United States could be accounted for by the differences in financial literacy.
We are looking forward to seeing many familiar faces join us again, including ACLI Capital Challenge Hall of Fame runners who have competed 10 or more times. There are always plenty of new competitors every year, too. And for those on the fence, there’s still time to sign up for the race as the entry deadline isn’t until April 21.
So if you work on Capitol Hill, in the Biden Administration or with the federal judiciary — or if you cover them for a media outlet, round up four of your colleagues and enter your team here. Keep up with race news on social media including our ACLICapitalChallenge Instagram account and tag #CapChallenge. Then lace up your sneakers and join us next month. It will be three miles for 4.4 million kids!
Susan K. Neely was President and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), the nation’s leading trade association determined to help families live better lives by achieving financial security and certainty. As president and CEO, Neely drove public policy and advocacy on behalf of ACLI’s member companies that represent 93 percent of industry assets and serve 90 million families. She is CEO Emeritus through December, 2024.
