Glinda Bridgforth - Girl, Make Your Money Grow!: A Sisters Guide to Protecting Your Future and Enriching Your Life

I thank God for everything. My favorite affirmation is: All my wants and needs are met because God is my source. For me, that says it all.

Thanks to Broadway Books for continued faith in me; Ann Campbell for being an awesome editor, and my literary agent, Bonnie Solow, for your commitment and sage advice. Thanks to my friends at Essence, Susan L. Taylor, Diane Weathers, and Claire McIntosh, for valuing my work. Thank you much to those who gave their time, energy, expertise, and incredible insights: Laurel Counts, Lanta Evans Motte, Arabella Grayson, Melissa Lyckberg, Brenda Lane Richardson, Olivia Mellon, Diane Reeder, and Brenda K. Wade, Ph.D. I'm eternally grateful to all other experts who helped us with this project.

There are many folks who invited me to spread the word about getting straight over the last three years. I appreciate you all, but a special thanks to: ALelia Bundles, Sylvia Gamble, Connie Guinn, Alexis Harris, Tiffany Harris, Rhonda Jackson, Regina Malveaux, Perris McKnight, Metropolitan Baptist Church Women's Ministry, Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, Pam Nelson, New Birth Cathedral, Rita Owens, Robin Ware, Lisa Freeman, Betty J. Price, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Melody Spann-Cooper, Jacqueline Thomas, Triumph Baptist Church Women's Ministry, and Nancy Waters. Also, thank you to bookstores and to radio, television, and print media interviewers for your support.

Thanks to my friends at 1300 Lafayette who always had an encouraging word when I was overwhelmed with this project: Mel and Carolyn Wanzo, Judge Cynthia Hathaway, DeWayne Hayes, Mary Martin, Crystal Travis, Frances Parker, Genise Wesley, and Anthony Lewis.

A special thank you to my sounding boards and best buds: Brenda J. Allen, Jwahir Gold, Andrew Hopkins, Karen James, Charmaine McClarie, Timothy McDaniels, Vivian Vanderwerd, and to Stephen Moore for the funny stories and for helping me get my dance on. To my southwest Detroit Ya-Ya sister-girls: Marsha Black, Denise Barnes-Wiley, Ellen Carter, Henrietta Carter, Jackie Conley, Gale Eubanks, Jackie Floyd, Laurena Campbell-Green, Gwen Jackson, Darlene Jordan, Jackie Kennedy, Linda Lee, Andrea McMath, Alfreda Montgomery, Debra Owens, Glynette Sharpe, Vickie Underwood, Debra Watson, Karen McCary-Willis, Carolyn Hunter, and Garnetta Stokes. Thanks for showin' up. I love you all. Thanks to the village (Deacon Street); Joe Ware for making Bates House B & B a fabulous home away from home; Linda Darden Lee and Rev. Kimberly Chandler for your continuous prayers and Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church for the weekly Good News message.

Sometimes I feel so full of love and gratitude for my family that I think my heart could just burst. Thank you Father, Mother, Ann, Barbara, Doris, Yvonne, Walter Jr., Paula, Joe, Robert, Darrell, Van, Anita, Sharon, Yvette, Stephanie, Tracey, Kim, Vic, Elgin, Sonja, Walt, Eddie, Justin, and Kaelyn. Thanks Shirley and the rest of the branches and leaves on my family tree.

Thank you to everyone who supported Girl, Get Your Money Straight! To my clients who graciously allow me to be a beacon and shed some light along their path to financial peace of mind. And to all of the courageous sisters who shared their stories in this book so that other sisters can make their money grow.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to my co-author, Gail Perry-Mason. I've never met anyone with a bigger heart or greater desire to help people. Thanks for your friendship and your expertise. We did it!

Glinda Bridgforth

Thank God for wisdom, direction, and our gifts to teach and do his work. Without our creator, nothing is possible.

I would like to acknowledge all my family, friends, clients, and supporters for being my foundation. I realize I can't do anything alone.

Glinda, our friendship has grown, and I want to thank you for the invitation to co-author this book. You were right. Ann Campbell and Bonnie Solow are the best!

Thanks to my best friends who are like sisters to me: Kathleen Colin, thanks for sharing your friendship and your family; Ingrid Benson-Brown and Michelle May-James for our thirty-six-year friendship that began at age four; Cathy Cook, Dorian Hoskins, Deborah Stroud, and all my friends from Deporres. I appreciate and love you!

Thanks for the support and guidance from all my mothers that I claim and love: Francis Lewis, Barbara Moore, Annie Jones, Nancy Allen, Lula Brunson, Jean Anderson, and my godmother, Juanita Parrell.

I don't have any aunts, but if I had to choose, it would be Constance Rosser, Rev. Spand, Gladys Sledge, Johnnie Adgers, Gayle Norwood, Glinda Gill, and Portia Lockett. I admire your strength. If I had to choose my sisters, it would be Alycia, Alena, Edwina, Jami, Gabrielle, Linda Moragne, Rochelle Newsom, Sharon Coger, Cheryl Fallen, Francis Clay-Thomas, Vera Brewer, and Carla Scott Watson. I always wanted a large family. Your sisterhood means so much to me.

Thanks to my Money Matters for Youth family for making my dream and vision come true to teach our youth economic empowerment. Raynard Young, you are my ray of hope along with our staff Jami, Sherry, Kevin, Kim Sherobbie, and the numerous supporters, Carlos Johnson, Uzzle Family, Diane Bolton of YSR, Fifth Third Bank, Tangy Lucas, and Detroit Public Schools. Gabrielle Thomas, you are our angel. Tavis Smiley and your great YTL staff, thanks for your commitment to our youth. You are a blessing! Rev. Van, thanks for allowing us to use the church for our youth meetings. You will receive your dividends.

Thanks to my firm, Oppenheimer and Co., Inc., which has supported me beyond belief, especially my assistant, Susan Parr, my partner, Thomas Bellos, and the Compliance Director, Violet Kobielski, Joanna McDonald and the entire staff. It took the help of many experts to make this possible, and I would like to thank Cheryl Davis of Nationwide Insurance, Alice Gibson, Barbara Clay of Colonial, Jane Adams of JMA. You are wonderful.

Thanks to all my hundreds of wonderful clients that believe and grow with me in business and friendship: Alpha Partners, Safeway Transportation, Detroit Chassis, Judith Griffie, Mary, Marguerite, Ozell Bankhead, Mr. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, Dr. Tommie Johnson, Anna Burge, Regina Byrd, Ann Connley, Dr. and Mrs. Hawkins, and the Snider, Pickens, Powell, Hardge, and Pickett families.

Thanks to my many interns and youth counselors, whom I never turn down when you come to me for a job. Thanks for allowing me to be your mentor. It is my greatest investment. I can't wait to see the returns! Stephanie and Stacy, you are the role models.

My godchildren Bianca, Jessica, Kristen, my cousins Andrea, Donna, Gilda Snowden, Calvin Colbert, my nieces Michelle, Joyce, Makarra, Latriece, my sister Brenda, brother Driek, and my sisters-in-law Deb, Troy, and Vanae. Thanks for being in my life.