FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: DEREK W. BRYANT
202-806-7184
OCTOBER 1, 2026

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**MEDIA ADVISORY**

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WHAT:   2026 Wells Fargo Financial Symposium

WHEN: Friday, October 2, 2026, at 1 p.m. (ET)

WHERE: Blackburn Center (2397 6th Street NW, Washington, DC 20059)

WHO:  As Howard University alumni, students and fans gather in D.C., for the 2026 Battle of the Real HU, Wells Fargo and Howard University will bring student-athletes together for an afternoon focused on one of the most important skills for long-term success: financial wellness.

On Friday, October 2, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wells Fargo will host a Financial Symposium on the Howard University campus in the Blackburn Center (2397 6th Street NW, Washington, DC 20059) featuring a Daniel Shannon, executive director of enterprise HBCU Strategy at Wells Fargo, interactive financial education experiences and discussions designed to help student-athletes prepare for life beyond sports.

The event features a fireside chat with Paxton Baker, a respected businessman and entrepreneur whose three-decade career spans entertainment, sports, media and community engagement. Baker is widely recognized for his leadership at BET and his role as a minority owner and community liaison for the Washington Nationals. .

Student-athletes also will participate in Wells Fargo's financial simulation, a real-world budgeting exercise that challenges participants to make financial decisions related to housing, transportation, family expenses, groceries, and other everyday costs. The experience helps young adults understand budgeting, financial tradeoffs and money management skills that can influence their future financial success.

The symposium aligns with Wells Fargo's longstanding commitment to supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities and providing financial education resources that help students build confidence and financial capability.

This event presents strong local and community-interest story angles around:

• Financial literacy for college students and student-athletes
• Preparing young adults for financial independence
• Supporting HBCU students through education and career readiness initiatives
• Leadership lessons from successful Black business executives
• The growing emphasis on life skills and financial wellness in college athletics
• Battle of the Real HU weekend activities that extend beyond football

ATTENDEES:    

Daniel Shannon, Executive Director, Enterprise HBCU Strategy & Engagement

Wells Fargo

Paxton Baker, Entrepreneur, Entertainment and Sports Industry Leader

Howard University Representatives & Student-Athletes

CONTACT:   

Caroline White

VP, Lead Communications Consultant 

Corporate Communications / Public Affairs

caroline.o.white@wellsfargo.com 

Carol Wilkerson

 Howard Director of Media Relations

Carol.Wilkerson@howard.edu

Derek W. Bryant

Howard Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations & Sports Information

Derek.Bryant@howard.edu