Carmen Rita Wong to Keynote Purses with a Purpose Personal Finance Guru to Discuss “Mind over Money” DALLAS, TEXAS (October 9, 2015)—Carmen Rita Wong – author of The Real Cost of Living; personal finance contributor on MSNBC, CNN and The View; and co-founder of an all-female financial planning firm – will headline the 2015 Purses with a Purpose luncheon benefitting Transformance (formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas) on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum by Love Field Airport. In her keynote speech, Wong will explore what people value and how they feel about their lives. She will examine how to find out what holds people back from making the changes they need to make to live the life they want to live. Wong explains: “To do this, you must know your ‘money-type’ and how it works for or against you: money as reward, money as punishment and money as control. What happens when big, bad decisions based on emotion cost us big bucks? The empowerment that you get through financial education and counseling can be life- changing.” Ken Goodgames, CEO of Transformance says, “We are thrilled to host Ms. Wong as she supports our vision of building financially stable and sustainable communities through learning solutions that help transform lives. Our aim is to successfully help individuals and families transition out of financial crisis. Her views are in complete alignment with the spirit of this luncheon, the 6th Annual Purses with a Purpose.” President and founder of Malecon Productions, Wong is the former co-creator and host of the only national, daily personal finance television show – On the Money – on CNBC. She was also the co-founder and former president of an all-female financial planning firm; a former editor at MONEY magazine as well as a previous national advice columnist at Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Latina, Essence, and Men’s Health; and is currently assistant industry professor of finance and risk engineering at NYU Polytech. Wong also writes for The New York Times and is the author of two books – her most recent The Real Cost of Living. She has also written a novel based on her life and the lives of her first- and second- generation Latina friends, famous and not, to be released in 2015. Wong can be seen frequently as a regular contributor to the Melissa Harris Perry Show on MSNBC, on CBS This Morning, CNN, and ABC’s The View. A former contributor to The Today Show on NBC, she has appeared on dozens of other broadcast outlets and is a seasoned speaker and moderator. She has a master’s degree in psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and serves on the board of the Council of Urban Professionals, the New York Urban League, and the advisory boards of VIVA Broadway and Dress for Success. A highlight of Purses with a Purpose is the designer purse auction that benefits financial education and counseling for women, their families and outreach organizations. Advocare is the presenting sponsor of Purses with a Purpose, and Bank of Texas is the Financial Literacy Champion sponsor. Corporate sponsorships are currently available beginning at $2,500. Event co-chairs are Pat Galas and Liz Galas Hunter, and honorary co-chairs are Susan and John Cuellar. This year’s benefit is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Frontiers of Flight Museum by Love Field Airport. Individual tickets are available for $100 and tables may be purchased for $1,250. Ticket information is available by contacting Sharon King at (214)540-6813 or [email protected]. ### Contact: Dana Cobb TrizCom Inc. 972-955-9747 [email protected] .