Collierville, Tenn. – October 2, 2019 – David A. Pickler, President of Pickler Wealth Advisors in Collierville, won the 2019 Invest in Others Catalyst Award, one of five awards presented on September 26 at the 13th Annual Invest in Others Awards Gala in Boston. David earned the honor for his charitable work with the American Public Education Foundation, which received a $45,000 donation from the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation.
The Invest in Others Awards program recognizes the charitable work of financial advisors in communities across the country and around the world. The Catalyst Award is presented annually to a financial advisor who has been an active stimulus for positive change and displayed entrepreneurial vision and leadership to a nonprofit organization for at least three years. This may involve rejuvenating an organization from failing to thriving, or helping to launch a new nonprofit organization. Winners are selected based on their leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration, and impact on a nonprofit and the community it serves. David was one of three national finalists for the award.
“It is an honor to be selected as the 2019 Catalyst Award winner,” said Pickler. “This recognition is significant for our foundation because it means we can continue to promote high-quality public education to the 50 million children of America’s public schools. Public education is more than a civil right — it's a vital national security imperative. I look forward to the future for the American Public Education Foundation and our work in financial literacy, workforce development, and innovation.”
David Pickler has been a steadfast supporter of public education for the past thirty years, advocating for K-12 youth locally in Shelby County, Tennessee and more broadly on a national scale. David built upon these experiences in creating the American Public Education Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on inspiring K-12 youth. The Foundation’s two core focuses include Financial Literacy and Workforce Development. David has structured these twin pillars intentionally, as they are specifically targeted to address critical needs nationwide both now and in the future. Some of David’s greatest accomplishments in his work with the Foundation include playing a major advocacy role in getting Tennessee to mandate financial education as a high school requirement. Additionally, the Foundation has played a pivotal role in creating innovative partnerships between educators and business leaders in Tennessee to align workforce development initiatives. David strongly believes that public education is the great American equalizer and that children who receive great educations will have the capacity to fulfill their potential as productive adults.
“We are thrilled that Invest in Others chose David as the recipient of the Catalyst Award,” said Cameron Spann, Chief Communications Officer of the American Public Education Foundation. “I have personally watched David create this special organization focused on advocating for a better education for all children. He has personally contributed thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure K-12 students are given an equal opportunity. The foundation is elated that David’s lifelong work in education was recognized on a national level.”