TD Bank and Venture Valley Bring Financial Education and Entrepreneurship to Johnson C. Smith University Through Gaming Competition

News provided by

Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship

Oct 14, 2025, 08:33 ET

Students can Earn Prizes While Building Real-World Business Skills

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship today announced that TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, and the Venture Valley video game team are conducting a high-energy video game competition at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) in Charlotte, NC. Open to all JCSU and select local high school students, participants can earn cash prizes while gaming and gaining insights into budgeting, investment risk, profit-and-loss management, and much more.

The event will run from noon to 5:30 p.m. EDT on October 21, 2025, at JCSU's Innovation Center Science Building in Charlotte, NC. Eligible aspiring entrepreneurs can register HERE, and event information can be found at Join the JCSU VIDEO GAME COMPETITION.

Developed by the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, the award-winning Venture Valley is a free (no ads, no in-app purchases) multiplayer business simulation game available on PC (via Steam) and mobile (iOS and Android). Players start small by running a dog-walking business and work their way up to managing more complex ventures, such as drone factories or hovercraft ride-sharing services. Along the way, students learn about managing cash flow, balancing expenses, and making smart business investment decisions.

The collaboration between TD Bank and Venture Valley underscores both organizations' shared goal of helping young people build financial confidence. A recent survey conducted among Venture Valley players found that more than 80% of students reported that the game effectively enhanced their understanding of entrepreneurship and financial education, while 82% stated that it inspired them to envision themselves as entrepreneurs.

"At TD Bank, we know that financial preparedness is critical for long-term success, especially in the small business sector, and we're committed to supporting programs that make financial learning more accessible, engaging, and practical," said Amber Tofilon, Head of U.S. Sustainability at TD Bank. "Working with Venture Valley allows us to meet students where they are – on screens – and helps empower them to build the skills to be confident in their future financial decisions and entrepreneurial aspirations."

"After more than 50 school events and almost 300,000 students nationwide, we've seen firsthand how Venture Valley helps build confidence in managing money, taking risks, and thinking like an entrepreneur," said Beth Harris, Director of Marketing for the Venture Valley team. "Working with TD Bank allows us to bring that same impact to JCSU students and local high schoolers, making financial education accessible and empowering for young people in the Charlotte, NC, community."

"Bringing this opportunity to Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU)—the first HBCU to do so— through the university's eSports and Gaming Trifecta highlights how esports and gaming can bridge education and entertainment. Our students gain real-world business and financial skills in an environment that makes learning both meaningful and fun," stated John Cash, JCSU Esports & Gaming Trifecta Professor.

Venture Valley has brought its highly engaging and successful tournaments to a wide range of campuses across the country, including MIT, Boston University, Suffolk University, University of Tampa, High Point University, UC Riverside, Seton Hall, and Baruch CUNY, as well as several high schools, including the Monrovia Unified School District. Through these events, students have had the opportunity to test their entrepreneurial skills, compete for prizes, and, most importantly, gain practical experience in financial decision-making.

More information on the Venture Valley game can be found at www.venturevalleygame.com and through our social media channels:

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank ®
TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Auto Finance, a division of TD Bank, N.A., offers vehicle financing and dealer commercial services. TD Bank and its subsidiaries also offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth^®. TD Bank is headquartered in Mount Laurel, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/TDBank_US/.

TD Bank is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, a top 10 North American bank. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com/us.

About Venture Valley
Venture Valley is a free (no in-app purchases or ads) PC and mobile (iOS and Android) game. The game is a project of the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit with the mission of making financial competence fun and engaging for everyone by using the power of entertainment to capture attention, create change, promote entrepreneurship, and inspire individual achievement. https://venturevalleygame.com

SOURCE Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship