Unless you're living in seclusion out near those nukes that went offline in Wyoming, you know the Giants' can finally win the World Series as San Franciscans. And after last night, millions of us here in the Bay Area and beyond are growing and dying black beards.
A lesser-known fact, however, is that the San Francisco Bay Area people who save with EARN, folks we call EARN Savers, have quite a bit in common with the Giants.
Here are the top 3:
1. They're underdogs.
Since moving from New York to San Francisco in the 1950s, the Giants have failed to win a World Series. The Bleacher Report calls the Giants "a group of veteran journeymen making the most out of possibly their only playoff appearance of their career." Just 31% of voters in an ESPN poll thought the Giants would win the World Series. Ha!
EARN's Savers, hard-working Bay Area families pushing for the American Dream, are also strivers who have been continuously under-estimated. Like the Giants, they are beating the odds and have saved nearly $5 million of their hard-earned money since 2002. (Kind of like 20 runs from these Giants in the first two games, no?) EARN Savers are 24/7 underdogs, overcoming jaw-dropping economic obstacles to save invest in life-changing goals, such as going to college, purchasing and keeping first homes, and starting small businesses. (Rocky did not buy a house until after the opening credits of Rocky 2, and come on - he was buying in Philly!).
2. They're resilient.
Every Giants fan will agree: if there's one word to sum up this past season, it's "torture." Game after game, los Gigantes seemed to wait until the very last inning to score a run, clinching the Pennant at the very last possible moment. They won games, they lost games, but they never allowed the fatigue of an achingly long, stressful season to get the best of them. And they are reaping the reward of that resiliency with the pole position in the fall classic.
The same goes for our Savers. In spite of working long hours in low-wage jobs in one of the world's most expensive places, our Savers look to the future with optimism and hope, saving whatever they can - so that their future will be brighter than their present. Inspiring? In the words of the former governor of a state where residents can see Russia, "You betcha."
3. They're beloved.
As the Giants have beaten the Phillies last weekend and then the Rangers in the first two games of the World Series, San Francisco's streets have come alive. People are dancing, hugging, and crying with joy. This city loves its Giants.
And we should all love EARN Savers. In a tough time, they remind us of what is attainable in life with hard work and support from places like EARN. When the Giants win this thing, I'm going ask closer, Brian Wilson, if he will change his title to Saver.
For more information about EARN, check out www.earn.org, or the current issue of Time Magazine. The article on EARN can be found online here.