Born and raised in Augusta, Ga., home of the Masters Golf Tournament, Comerica’s Charlene Cole is on a mission to help Detroiters and Michiganders alike master one of life’s make-or-break courses: financial literacy.

Her work is particularly timely with Money Smart Week approaching. A series of programs, seminars and events addressing financial education, the fifth annual Michigan Money Smart Week will take place April 20-26.

“Money Smart Week is important to Comerica because it is an opportunity for us to partner with other organizations to assist the community by delivering financial education and help the community manage credit during difficult economic hardships,” said Cole, Comerica’s Education Relations manager.

“As responsible corporate citizens, Comerica is committed to providing financial education in the community.”

A 29-year veteran of Comerica and a former branch manager, Cole is well equipped to promote financial education given her extensive experience within the bank and in the community. Her history at Comerica includes a unique five-year assignment which housed her at Webber Middle School in Detroit. There, Cole helped design and implement programs that addressed the needs of the whole student, in and out of school.

Not surprisingly, she remains passionate about helping youth in her current position.

“My dream for young people growing up in our community as it relates to financial education is that they equip themselves with the knowledge of how to live their lives without the hardships that some of us have had to learn because we did not manage credit wisely or lived from paycheck to paycheck,” she said.

“It is important that young people learn to mange their money, their time and be responsible for making decisions that will help them accumulate wealth. This allows them to live a healthy life and sustain their future and that of their children.”

And to ensure future generations obtain the needed financial literacy to advance, Cole says a team approach is required – parents working hand-in- hand with their children.

“Parents should begin at an early age with their children to teach them what a budget is and how to manage their allowances,” she said. “Have them sit down with you and discuss topics such as, ‘where money comes from,’ ‘how money flows through the economy’ and ‘how money is earned.’

“Most important, teach them the value of saving money.”