Passing along his father's lessons, Rogers Jr. now nurtures an interest in the economy and the stock market in young Chicagoans as benefactor of a public elementary school named Ariel Community Academy that specializes in teaching financial literacy to kids. His company has donated more than $3 million dollars to the school since it opened in 1996, and helps raise more from other donors. The idea for an academy to teach financial literacy grew out of a non-profit offshoot of Ariel, led by Arne Duncan, now Obama's Education Secretary. Incoming classes get a $20,000 stock portfolio to manage, and share in the profits when they graduate eighth grade. Ariel lets students attend board meetings, and arranges for big-name guest speakers such as movie-maker George Lucas, Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), and Morningstar founder Joe Mansueto.

He's also served as director of the Chicago Urban League and president of the Chicago Park District, and in 2008 received the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award honoring Princeton alums whose lives embody the ideals expressed in President Woodrow Wilson's speech "Princeton in the Nation's Service." Rogers was the first African American recipient of the award.

Before the recession hit, Ariel had grown to employ 100 and manage $15.5 billion in client assets. But over the course of 2008, as the stock market dived and nervous clients pulled out their money, the portfolio dwindled to $7.1 billion.This past summer, for the first time, Ariel had to lay off 19 employees. "It's a sad day for all of us," Rogers told ChicagoBusiness.com at the time. "The hugs and tears were unimaginable."

Rogers still plays basketball, on occasion with Obama. He was on the court with the President on Election Day. "You pinch yourself sometimes," he says.

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