In 2005, she co-founded Financial Beginnings and started delivering financial classes to schools. In addtion, Bell revived the Oregon Jump$tart Coalition in 2008 and helped develop new statewide education standards that include financial literacy as a Social Science Core Standard.

These accomplishments and her continued work teaching young adults about the importance of financial planning is why Bell was honored on the Together stage as Portland’s “Dream Achiever.”

“A ‘Dream Achiever’ is a woman who rejected the status quo and refocused her life to reflect her passion,” shared Michelle Hare from State Farm Marketing. “She is a woman who takes chances, follows her heart and believes in empowering others.”

Together is a six-city tour convening women across generations and backgrounds for evenings filled with storytelling focused on creating community, well-being, purpose and action. State Farm is a primary sponsor of the tour and will honor a Dream Achiever in each city.

“The Together tour is about bringing women together to celebrate love, build community and take action. Through storytelling, Together aims to help people feel less alone in their lives,” said Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who leads WME’s Literary Division and is producing the tour. “Our work with State Farm to honor Dream Achievers is the ultimate culmination of the Together mission. Melody Bell is inspiring and courageous -- a true example of what it means to live in your purpose and follow your dreams.”

More than 2,000 women gathered at the Keller Auditorium for friendship, empowerment, and action. Core speakers included Glennon Doyle Melton, Seane Corn, Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Valarie Kaur, with celebrity guest appearances from Abby Wambach and Geena Rocero.

“Together is a movement bringing new ideas, influencers, and organizations together,” shared Hare. “Melody is the epitome of a Dream Achiever. She personifies what we hope for all the women attending the Together tour.”

In her next career role she helped people who had fallen behind on their financial obligations and save for retirement. But deep down, she felt she could do more. She wanted to help people before they fell into economic hardship.

Melody realized sound financial decisions are a result of early education. Unfortunately, the majority of the people she encountered did not have that education and were not equipped to make those important decisions. They not only struggled to make ends meet, but often were forced to put dreams and life goals on hold.

In 2005 Melody took a leap of faith. She left her secure job to start Financial Beginnings (FB).The non-profit provides unbiased, personal financial education to young people.

In 2015, the organization reached more than 34,000 youth and adults in Oregon and Washington. FB shares its financial literacy curriculum with 151 schools and 56 community organizations across both states.

Melody didn’t stop there. She revived the Oregon Jump$tart Coalition and took part in creating statewide financial education standards. Today, financial literacy is a Social Science Core Standard in Oregon.

Melody took a chance, rejected the status quo and followed her heart. Now her life reflects her passion for helping and empowering others. She is a Dream Achiever.