“Funny Money” is coming to Mississippi State.The Campus Activities Board, department of wildlife and fisheries, and Trustmark Health are sponsoring the financial seminar, which is hosted by speaker and comedian James Cunningham. Cunningham melds comedy with sound financial advice to keep students entertained and teach them how to keep their pocketbooks full.
The multimedia presentation has won Lecture of the Year twice as selected at the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities Conference.
“He uses comedy to talk about financial issues that students face,” said Adam Kennard, speakers forum executive of the Campus Activities Board. “He’ll talk about stuff like how to keep your checkbook balanced and how to try and stay out of debt, stuff that faces college students every day that you never really learn in normal class.”
“It’s the first financial seminar of its kind that’s designed exclusively for college and university students,” Cunningham said on his Web site. “I teach them everything they need to know about budgeting their money, managing their debt, and investing for their future.”
Financial advice, however, is not the only drawing point of attending the seminar.
“He gives away money,” Kennard said. “So there is a lot of audience participation. I think he ends up giving away about 250 bucks throughout the evening.”
“Students don’t sit back and watch the seminar, they’re a part of the seminar,” Cunningham said on his Web site.
Cunningham has several years of experience as an entertainer. According to his Web site, funnymoneyinc.com, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in theater and drama. He has spent several years touring as a stand-up comedian, has written his own comedy feature and is a regular on Canadian TV networks.
He has been the opening act for Steven Wright, Jeff Foxworthy and Aretha Franklin. “Funny Money” earned Lecture of the Year at COCA in 2004 and 2005, and Cunningham was nominated for “Comedian of the Year” in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Mississippi State’s CAB came across Cunningham at last year’s National Association for Campus Activities Conference.
“Our student director saw him, and she said he was really good and entertaining,” Kennard said. “My speakers committee wanted to do a financial show, so I brought this one up, and it’s the one they picked to do.”
CAB hopes that the seminar proves to be more than just entertainment and that students take some helpful advice away from the show.
“I think it will be helpful because I know a lot of students don’t pay attention to their money as much as they should, especially using credit cards,” Kennard said. “It’ll be a lot more beneficial from students who have parents who don’t make them work. It’ll help them get a little experience and knowledge in areas that will be beneficial to you one day if they aren’t right now.”
Funny Money will take place in Lee Auditorium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The show is open to the public and admission is free.
“It’s about an hour and a half long,” Kennard said. “So it’s short and sweet. A nice little evening of entertainment.”
For more information, visit James Cunningham’s Web site at funnymoneyinc.com, CAB’s Web site at www.msstate.edu/org/cab, or call CAB at (662) 325-2930.