A Tribute To Our Founder, Charles J. Givens
by David W. Phillips
It began with a dream. Charles J. Givens, Jr. was 18 years old and bagging groceries for $0.85 an hour when he wrote down a dreams list identifying 188 dreams he was determined to accomplish. Among his many remarkable achievements, over 180 of those original 188 dreams have been reached.
Charles Jr. was born on February 5, 1941, and grew up in Decatur, Illinois, graduating from MacArthur High School in 1959. On his 16th birthday, his aunt sent him an old guitar and unknowingly launched his musical career. He became a Central Illinois celebrity with his band "Chuck Givens and the Quintones" during the Rock & Roll era of the '50s and '60s.
He attended Milliken University in Decatur and the University of Tennessee before moving to Nashville. A fire destroyed his music studio, equipment and master tapes, and with no insurance to cover the loss, he learned what it meant to lose everything. He realized that in order to control your future effectively, you must first let go of your past. "Where I is, is where I is -- but where I'm going is up to me" became his motto.
The Organization
The goal of reaching 40 million people, in 1975, Charles J. Givens started the Awareness Motivation Institute in order to teach the success strategies he had learned about life the hard way.
In the mid-1980s, that dream grew into the Charles J. Givens Foundation, and by 1990, the Charles J. Givens Organization had grown into the largest financial and educational services organization in the world, with a membership of over 600,000.
Mr. Givens personally spent 40 weeks a year lecturing in all 50 states to about half-a-million people per year.
His books
Charles J. Givens wrote the book on money. In fact, he made publishing history by writing the four best-selling financial books of all time: More Wealth Without Risk, Financial Self-Defense, Wealth Without Risk for Canadians and Wealth Without Risk.
His appearances
Charles J. Givens appeared as a featured guest on almost every major national television talk show, including, Oprah, Larry King, Phil Donahue, Joan Rivers, Geraldo Rivera, CNN, the Home Show, the 700 Club and the Today Show.
The Charles J. Givens' Money Strategies newspaper column has been carried in 500 newspapers in 48 states and his radio broadcasts and interviews have been heard throughout the country.
His travels
J. Givens' love of travel and adventure has taken him around the globe. His dream of traveling to every recognized country and territory in the world led him to well over 300 of the 326 countries and non-sovereign territories that span all seven continents.
By 1995, he was the 12th most traveled man in history.
The future
Charles J. Givens' dream to "stamp out financial ignorance in America" and his money strategies continue in the mission and work of IAS.
In June of 1995, the corporate entity of International Administrative Services, Inc. (IAS) was established at Mr. Givens' direction for the purpose of providing a new corporate identity for the Organization to lead us into the 21st century. He hand-picked a staff of experienced financial consultants, member support personnel and administrators to carry on the Organization's mission.
His legacy
Although Charles J. Givens passed away on July 12th, 1998 after a long battle with cancer, his dream is very much alive. Practically every day the Organization receives phone calls or letters from members who relate their success stories -- the direct result of Charles J. Givens' strategies.
As a pioneer, he was willing to take on banks, insurance companies, car dealers, stock brokers and financial planners in order to uncover the "real story." As a result, individuals now can make informed financial decisions that are in their best interest.
Charles J. Givens single-handedly revolutionized the financial services industry. Low-interest rate credit cards, low-cost term life insurance with comparison quotes available by phone, and the prevalence of individual investors in no-load mutual funds are the direct result of his influence.
The legacy Mr. Givens leaves to us is his money strategies, success principles and this Organization, IAS, whose mission is to carry on the dream and to help make your dreams a reality.
David W. Phillips served as a Hotline Consultant and WealthMaster coach to our members for several years and has been in the legal department for the Organization. Mr. Givens appointed him President of IAS in 1995.
Members Pay Tribute To Charles J. Givens
Letters From The IAS Mailbox
"Since 1992, your organization has given me a chance to learn the financial side of things and to start a million dollar retirement for myself and my family. I have a 12-year old son that has almost $14,000 in mutual funds and his 6-year-old baby sister has about $12,000 in the same no-load mutual fund. The list of things goes on, but in reading about Charles Givens, I am proud to be one of the folks to say he did make a difference in this family. Thank you!"
- John VeDepo and family
Pensacola, FL
*****
"I have been a student and fan of Charles Givens since 1984. Last week, when I opened our magazine tears came to my eyes when I read the article about Mr. Givens' death. In 1984, my net worth was $10,000. Today, at the age of 40, it is $1,200,000. I am thinking about retirement and owe all of this to Charles Givens and this great organization. It is so important that this organization continues, so many more thousands of Americans need this help just like me. Thank you for everything."
Gary Mastin
New Hampshire
*****
"I cannot tell you in words how saddened I was to hear of the death of Charles Givens. He was such a great humane human being the likes of which are few and far between. His generosity, honesty and caring for middle America has helped many of us learn how to accumulate and protect our wealth and savings. This has enabled us to live higher-quality lives than even our parents. He was our loving father who shared through his own mistakes to save us from similar sorrows and heartaches. The impact made with his presence can never be measured. I personally owe my success to this man and his teachings."
- Amrit Darshan
Portland, OR
*****
"We would like to relate how Mr. Givens' work has personally touched our lives. I read the book Wealth Without Risk and could not believe the wealth of information in it. I immediately started to apply the strategies and began saving hundreds of dollars.
"Today we have saved thousands by lowering our life insurances, switched to low-interest, no-fee credit cards, put the least amount down on our home and used a non-escrow mortgage, sold two houses on our own and saved broker fees, use the 10% Solution to pay ourselves first, started on the road to investing through no-load mutual funds and more.
"My wife and I thought that if you could hear how much Mr. Givens and his organization helped us, it would make his children and employees proud of his accomplishments and to continue his good work. Once again, our condolences to a wonderful man's family and organization."
- Mr. and Mrs. Ciro Napolitano
Brooklyn, NY
*****
"I have been a member since '91 or so. Since I started using your strategies my life has changed completely. I look forward to the next 10 years. Thank you Charles J. Givens and IAS."
- Ron Hartman
Boyertown, Pennsylvania
*****
"Enclosed is an article about Charles J. Givens, his death, his career and business as a financial educator for the common people, about the many scams perpetuated on these people by banks, insurance companies, auto manufacturers, etc. My wife and I have been members for several years now and have read numerous critical and defaming articles about him. I think most of the criticism of Mr. Givens was by people who were envious of his success in business."
- Alexander and Gwen Chapman
Denham Springs, LA
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