Jayson Tatum Shares How Growing Up in a ‘Single-Parent Household’ Inspired His SoFi Partnership (Exclusive)

Jayson Tatum reflects on how growing up in a “single-parent household” affected his view of financial security.

As the Boston Celtics star, 25, announces his partnership with SoFi, the NBA’s new official banking partner, Tatum tells PEOPLE he feels grateful to be able to give back to other families, single parents or not, from his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.

“I’m blessed to be in a position to help others from St. Louis, especially single-parent households like the one my mom raised me in,” says Tatum, who adds that his “ideas and values” around financial education are “aligned.” with SoFi.

Earlier this month, Tatum and the bank announced the SoFi Generation Wealth Fund, a $1 million donation from SoFi to “promote financial literacy and build wealth to sustain families,” according to a press release.

The fund will advance the SMART NBA Star Project, an effort that assists single parents as they navigate parenting, education and financial well-being through the Jayson Tatum Foundation. Specifically, the initiative will help expand homeownership opportunities for participating families.

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Jayson Tatum.

Tatum tells PEOPLE, “With the SoFi Generational Wealth Fund, we’re giving away $1 million toward the first key component of building generational wealth — becoming a homeowner. That would be life-changing for my mom and me.”

“I am proud to be able to offer this with SoFi through my Foundation,” he adds.

Earlier this month, the National Basketball Association and SoFi jointly announced a multi-year agreement making SoFi the official banking partner of the NBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and USA Basketball.

Tatum explained that growing up, he and his mother “lived paycheck to paycheck” and “didn’t understand the idea of ​​saving money,” during a live taping of Kenny Beecham’s podcast at the Tinker House in Indianapolis during NBA All-Star weekend.

Now that he’s in a position where he can “take care” of himself financially, Tatum told Beecham he wants to “make an impact” and “help people who come from the same background as me.”

Deuce Tatum presents his dad, Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics, with his All-Star ring before the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 16, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau/NBAE Jayson Tatum sent a message to the late Kobe Bryant before the Celtics’ Eastern Conference win: ‘I Got You’

The NBA star and his son, Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Jr., 6, meanwhile, have become fan favorites as Tatum’s career continues to see success with the Celtics.

Just before the start of the current NBA season, Tatum was a guest contributor to NBA newsletter Starting 5, where he talked about balancing his career as a professional athlete and parenting Deuce.

Tatum noted that there are great moments he feels lucky to share with his little boy, saying, “The best part of being his dad in the season is the games. That’s something we really bonded over.”

“He loves watching me play, coming to a game and being in the Garden, running in the back and playing in the locker room. Just seeing him develop over the years, his personality growing, especially at the Garden, it’s been amazing. You see, because we grew up there together,” he said. is Tatum.

Even when he’s the busiest, Tatum says, “Being a dad is the most important thing to me, so no matter what my schedule is, I’ll always find time to spend with him, and some of my favorite memories come from our car rides.”

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Source: HIS Education