JA Insight March 2009 Newswire

With the dogwoods in bloom and spring just
around the corner, it's the perfect time to help young minds blossom in the classroom. Plenty of volunteer opportunities are available this spring!

Thanks for doing your part to educate
Middle Tennessee's young people!

Inside the President's Corner
with
Trent Klingensmith

Dear JA Supporters,

Sen. Bill Frist has launched a state-wide campaign to improve education. Known as SCORE--State Collaborative on Reforming Education--the group aims to "jumpstart long-term educational change in Tennessee to ensure every child graduates from high school prepared for college or a career." This mission is absolutely in line with JA's mission across Middle Tennessee!

I recently encouraged our Board of Directors to share their passion for Junior Achievement with SCORE. JA Board Chair David Olender shared his submission with me. Since I could not have said this better myself, I am sharing his words with you. I hope you will find Dave's message as inspiring as I did!

Sincerely,
Trent

______________________________________

David J. Olender
Vice President, Strategic Alliances
Gaylord Entertainment Company

I am very supportive of the "Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE)" initiative to jumpstart long-term educational change in Tennessee. Every child needs to graduate high school prepared for college or a career.

I am writing to share my involvement in Junior Achievement of Middle TN. because I believe that both programs share the same goals and have perfectly aligned missions. Your "promising practices" initiative is exactly what our Junior Achievement programs accomplish. We reach over 45,000 Middle TN. children each year, K through 12, with specific age appropriate lessons regarding financial literacy, free-enterprise and entrepreneurship. We accomplish this through community volunteers directly in the classroom as well as our "Biz Town" product where 4th, 5th, and 6th graders prepare in the classroom with Junior Achievement provided lesson plans, interview for jobs and then come to our Biz Town Center for a day or two to act out real-life business experiences. We have TSU research that shows marked positive attitude changes regarding the desire to graduate from high school and to attend college when those questions are posed "pre-to-post" Junior Achievement class work.

Here is Our Mission:

"Junior Achievement seeks to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy."

"At Junior Achievement we believe in...

The boundless potential of young people.
Commitment to the principles of market-based economics and entrepreneurship.
Passion for what we do and honesty, integrity and excellence in how we do it.
Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives and background of all individuals.
Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration.
Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning.
Junior Achievement believes helping young people succeed today will help our communities succeed in the future."

"Junior Achievement receives no federal or state funding, nor is it a United Way Agency. Junior Achievement does, however, have a designation code, 7054, for individual donations given through United Way. Local contributors include more than 200 businesses and foundation grants. We have been able to continue our programs solely based on the financial support of local foundations, companies, individuals and special events that support our purpose, along with dedicated volunteers from the business community who donate their time to serve as classroom consultants."

Sincerely,
David J. Olender
Board Chair
Junior Achievement

If you would like to share your thoughts on JA with Sen. Frist and his team, please submit a "promising practice" here.

Opportunities for Donation

2009 Bowling on the High Seas

104.5 Pic

The mast has been trimmed, the deck has been swabbed, and the JA pirates are ready to
Bowl on the High Seas!

Get your crew ready for a fun-filled Bowl-a-Thon complete with costume contests, prizes, competitions, and plenty of pirate jargon! Our ship will be docked at Hermitage Lanes March 24th & 26th - 29th! Contact Laura Lovell if you need any assistance with last-minute details.

Want to be a part of the 2009 Bowl-a-Thon but your company is not signed up? Don't worry; you can still be a part of this event later this spring! Just contact Laura Lovell for alternate bowling dates throughout April and May.

Can't be a part of the Bowl-a-Thon this year but still want to support JA's efforts financially?

Sailing Kids

Click here to give your gift which will inspire students to a life of success!

Your generosity makes a huge difference in the lives of students:

$34 offers JA programming for one Middle Tennessee student.
$125 provides one classroom kit of materials and a trained volunteer for one area classroom.
$750 ensures that a JA program is delivered to a classroom of students.

Want to hear about more opportunities to support JA programming? Contact Laura Lovell, 615.627.1183.

Franklin American Mortgage Golf Classic
presented by Gaylord Entertainment

June 11 & 12, 2009
Gaylord Springs
Golf Links

Sign up your foursome or twosome before March 31st and receive a 10% discount!
Visit JA's Golf Web Page for more information and to register your team today. For more information, contact Laura Lovell.

__________________________________________

Want to spend a laid-back day at the course soaking up some sun and watching for a hole in one? We have the perfect opportunity for you. We need volunteers to ensure that the Golf Classic is a success! Contact Jessica Bowers for more information or to sign up.

Opportunities for Exploration

JA BizTown is Ready for Spring

Kids in Dog Store

The weather is heating up as we round the corner into spring, and so is life in JA BizTown! With nearly every day booked through the end of May, our busiest time is certainly upon us. But amid the hustle and bustle of the season, our spring is packed full of fresh new faces.

Thanks to the continual efforts of JA Board Members, supporters, and staff who are spreading the word about our town, we are excited to welcome eight brand new schools to JA BizTown this spring. Over 800 students from new schools will have the opportunity to run their own businesses, open bank accounts and spend their hard-earned paychecks. A first time visit can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for new teachers, but the impact the program is having on them and their students is beyond measure.

One new parent was so impressed by the BizTown experience that she took on the task of teaching the curriculum herself! "My oldest daughter had done it before and remembered it as one of the highpoints of 5th grade. I knew I wanted to give my middle daughter the same opportunity, but as a homeschooler, I did not have the school to help me, so I decided to do it myself," said Monica Jones of the Gresham/Jones Homeschool Group.

Thank you for helping to connect us with more and more new schools and teachers. If there's a school you are connected with who does not participate, please let them know about this amazing experience for their students. Information and an application can be found at www.janash.com/jabiztown. We're excited to welcome them all to our JA BizTown community! For additional information, please contact Rachel Dyer, Director of JA BizTown.

Junior Achievement is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to educating students about business, economics and personal finance.