‘Millionaires’ dream big

• By CHANTE DIONNE WARREN
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jun 6, 2009 - Page: 1B

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On Friday, Eli Coleman and Andrew Carter became millionaires for a day — at least on paper.

The 8-year-old boys each deposited $1 million checks into their savings accounts at E Federal Credit Union, earning $41.10 in interest and walking away with dreams of all the things they might do with their “24-hour” money, said Brandon Kelly, business development director at the credit union.

The boys won the credit union’s Millionaire for a Day contest, competing with 48 other children in an essay and picture contest with the theme “What I Would Do With a Million Dollars.”

Coleman wants to go to college, help his family pay bills, save and give to the needy, he said.

Carter drew a house, a yard, college and a piggy bank situated beside rain drops to illustrate his “rainy day” fund, he said.

“Being a millionaire is exciting and special,” said Carter. Coleman agreed. “I never thought I’d become a millionaire.”

Coleman and Carter also each won a 5-year certificate of deposit for $500, Kelly said.

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers founder and owner Todd Graves, 37, couldn’t agree more with their financial decisions.

He greeted them at his Market Street restaurant shortly after they left the credit union and gave them a tour of the kitchen, ate lunch with them, presented them with a Raising Cane’s gift bag and shared some advice on how to handle their “millions.”

“I’m proud of you guys. You did a good job,” Graves told them.

Coleman, who lives in Prairieville and will attend third grade at Central Primary School in the fall, wrote in his essay, “My family is very important to me and I would share with them. … I might help pay some of the bills at our house. … I guess I could pay for my sister’s college too. I would love to have a tree house … .”

Coleman’s mother, Rani Coleman, said Eli loves LSU baseball, math, swimming, watching “Phineas and Ferb” and eating pizza.

Graves said Coleman’s spending decisions were good ones, but encouraged him to not “guess” about helping pay for his sister’s education, but to do it.