Transformance Crowns Winner In Pocket Change Mobile Game Design Challenge

Transformance, Inc. and Games for Change have crowned a grand prize winner of the Pocket Change Game Design Challenge. Created to provide kids and young adults with a gamified platform for learning how to save money, the Pocket Change contest drew a wide variety of concepts, which were then narrowed down to five finalists.

All had a chance to present to an esteemed panel of judges, and when the dust settled, Rajee Jones’ Saving Pennies game concept was chosen as the grand prize winner. Jones was presented with a check for $10,000 and his game now goes into production, destined to become a vital component of Transformance’s multiple e-learning platforms set to debut at a launch party at the end of April.

“When my name was called as the winner, I was pretty shocked,” said Jones, an iOS software engineer with Dallas-based Bottle Rocket Studios. “Coming from a programming background, I was always taught to show, not tell, when presenting, and it worked out perfectly.”

Saving Pennies is an arcade-based puzzle game focused on teaching players to build wealth and overcome debt through saving strategies and repayment plans. Time-based interactions allow users to see real-world scenarios that inspire financial literacy and independence. The inspiration for the game came from the extremely popular Candy Crush app.

“We had such a great response for this game design challenge,” said Ken Goodgames, president and CEO of Transformance. “Seeing these game concepts—especially the winning design—lets us know that taking a gamified approach to teaching financial literacy to kids is going to work, and it’s going to work well.”

Rajee Jones wasn’t the only winner, however. Runner-up finisher Parking Lot Studios scored a big commitment for having their game concept, Once Upon a Knight, produced through a mentorship with Istation. Istation is a leading education-tech provider whose mission, along with game promotion by co-challenge organizer Games for Change (G4C), is to provide a catalyst for learning and social impact through digital game development. Other mentoring and presenting sponsor roles for the Pocket Change Game Design Challenge included Noggin Labs and Lumos Partners.

Once the game concept is completed, the winning entry will be distributed through Transformance’s online portal and mobile app (developed in partnership with Noggin Labs) and also featured as part of Transformance’s e-learning programs targeting young adults.

For more information on the Pocket Change Game Design Challenge, please visit the Transformance Pocket Change mobile app and online portal or call 1-800-249-2227.

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In 2015, the agency will have delivered more than 125,000 consumer interactions through financial counseling, outreach and education. In 2016, the agency expects to serve up to 1 million low and moderate income families with transformative financial learning solutions accessible online and through a new mobile app.

Since its founding in 1974 as Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas, the agency has empowered clients to overcome adversity and attain their financial goals. Services include credit/budget counseling, financial education, housing counseling, individual debt management and bankruptcy counseling. Transformance will:

• Provide a national nonprofit resource dedicated to confidential and professional counseling to assist financially distressed or economically vulnerable families

• Develop and foster community educational programs on family money management, budgeting and the wise use of money and credit

• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with the credit community, employee assistance programs, professional counselors and community-based social service agencies

• Provide opportunities for economic empowerment of low and moderate income families and with a particular focus on at-risk communities such as seniors, military families, veterans, communities of color and single, female-headed households

• Enable good financial knowledge early in life through its focus on education of students (K -12) and their parents through agency strategic partnerships

Transformance, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974, and is a United Way Service Provider as well as a HUD-approved multistate housing counseling and education organization. The agency is formally accredited every four years by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Families (COA) to ensure compliance with top industry standards and best practices. The agency has its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, with satellite offices in Arlington; Austin; Amarillo; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

To read more about Transformance, Inc., or for an annual report, visit http://www.transformanceusa.org.

Founded in 2004, Games for Change (G4C) facilitates the creation and distribution of social impact games that serve as critical tools in humanitarian and educational efforts, with an aim to leverage entertainment and engagement for social good. To further grow the field, G4C convenes multiple stakeholders, highlights best practices, incubates games, and helps create and direct investment into new projects. G4C is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation, led by President Susanna Pollack.

Please visit the G4C website at http://www.gamesforchange.org.

Istation is an award-winning, comprehensive e-learning program used by more than 4 million students and educators around the world. Istation’s computer-adaptive assessments immediately place students on personalized instructional paths unique to their needs. The animated, game-like interface engages students so effectively that they don’t even realize they’re being evaluated.

Istation is led by Chairman and CEO Richard H. Collins. Since its founding in 1998, the Dallas-based firm has seen tremendous growth. The company’s animated learning program now helps students in 44 states and four countries to learn and grow.

Please visit the company website at www.istation.com.

NogginLabs Inc. is an award-winning developer of gamified e-learning tools and platforms serving both the internal needs and client needs of major corporations and nonprofit organizations. NogginLabs’ expertise includes e-learning, simulation learning, “gamification,” mobile learning, rapid learning, learning portals and overall learning strategies. The company has been selected by Transformance, Inc. to develop the Pocket Change mobile app.

Founded in 1997, NogginLabs is led by CEO Traci Knudson and Founder Brian Knudson and operates out of its Chicago headquarters.

Please visit the company website at www.nogginlabs.com.

Lumos Partners is a tech sector-focused boutique investment banking firm with offices in Dallas, Texas, and Silicon Valley bringing extensive operational and funding experience in SaaS, cloud storage and computing, telecom and Internet, e-commerce, digital media, consumer tech, education tech, financial tech, health care information technology and health care devices. Lumos served as the exclusive financial adviser to GoFundMe in its 2015 recapitalization. Six founders are veterans of the tech sector and have combined deal experience exceeding $30 billion in transaction value. Firm principals include Vivek Goyal, Eddie Le and Eric Kim.

Lumos Partners is a Securities and Exchange Commission-registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Please visit the firm website at www.lumospartners.com.

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