Barbary Coast Consulting sponsors Sharon Jones through the Earned Assets Resource Network.  

Sharon is a 44 year old mother of five who is still the primary breadwinner for three of her children.

Sharon says that she used to blame her parents for not teaching her how to save money.  However, after thinking about her own children and her experiences, she realized it was her own responsibility to take charge of her financial life.

Sharon joined EARN, and started an Individual Development Account.  Like other EARN participants, every dollar Sharon saves is matched - twice! - by EARN, and the savings can be used for purchasing a home, starting a business, or in higher education.

Sharon has a background in community development and organizing, but has also quietly nurtured another, creative side – she is also an inventor.  Sharon has developed proprietary designs for a product she believes has enormous promise to help her grow a small business.  Each month, Barbary Coast makes a contribution to Sharon's Individual Development Account, which is managed by EARN.  Sharon uses her IDA and small business training to build prototypes of her product and build out other elements of her business.

Barbary Coast salutes EARN for their outstanding, collaborative approach to helping people permanently escape poverty - and we salute Sharon for her persistence, perserverance, and hard work.

For more information about the Earned Assets Resource Network, please click here: sfearn.org