JA New York couldn't choose to end 2011 on a better note than this. We are grateful to you, our supporters and partners, for helping to make this one of the more memorable years in our recent history.

We have continued to grow in strength, capacity and the ability to innovate in a challenging economic environment and we are really seeing our efforts bear fruit. In this issue of Achievement Matters, we will highlight some of our most recent fundraising and programming successes; we'll introduce you to our two outstanding 2011 Student Honorees; and we ask you to make us a part of your end-of-year giving plans to cap off an amazing year of collaboration, inspiration and solid progress. Thank you so much for your passion, energy and support. We wish you and your families a very happy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year! We look forward to working with you in 2012. 

On Tuesday, November 29, JA New York celebrated its tenth annual Awards Dinner at Gotham Hall, NYC. 

Thanks to the support of our board and corporate sponsors, it was a spectacular evening and a milestone event on several fronts.  Juju Chang, JA alumna and Emmy Award winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline was our Mistress of Ceremonies. Over 500 guests attended and over $753,000 was raised. This was JA New York's most successful Awards Dinner fundraising event in the history of the organization! We were also fortunate to have three outstanding honorees. In the last edition of Achievement Matters, we introduced you to our 2011 Business Honoree, David S. Rose, Founder and CEO of Gust. In this edition, we would like to introduce you to this year's student honorees, Melissa Benenson and Felisha Ramquar. Both of them represented themselves, their schools, their families and JA New York outstandingly well at the Awards Dinner.  We can't wait to see what the rest of the school year has in store for these two amazing young achievers.

Watch Juju Chang - JA New York Awards Dinner MC and JA Alumna talk about the influence of JA on her life and personal development 

See photo highlights from the JA New York 2011 Awards Dinner 

Long Island's own Melissa Benenson, a JFK High School student is described by her teachers as "hardworking, committed and passionate."

As a Student of the Year candidate, she stood out because of her passion for raising the financial IQ in her community through community service. Both Melissa and her teachers have noticed the growth and improvement in her behavior, skill sets and self confidence as a result of her involvement with Junior Achievement of New York's High School Heroes program. One of her biggest accomplishments was managing to overcome a fear of public speaking and presentation. Junior Achievement helped her to step out of her comfort zone to grow through helping others. "I am passionate and determined to continue pushing financial literacy, not just in my community, but in the entire state! Thanks to Junior Achievement, teaching fifth grade students was an experience that I will never forget. I didn't expect to have learned so much."

Melissa's fellow Student of the Year Honoree hails from Brooklyn NY. Felisha Ramquar, an Academy of Hospitality and Tourism High School student, has participated in the JA Job Shadow program, JANY University and JA New York's High School Heroes program.

She credits Junior Achievement with exposing her to a variety of career options and life choices that she may not have had access to without the support of JA. Felisha stood out as a Student of the Year candidate because of her pioneering spirit. As a naturalized American citizen, Trinidadian born Felisha is determined to remain on track to be the first member of her family to attend college. Her teachers describe her as "...dedicated to helping others...and committed to her own personal and professional development." Felicia is not one to waste an opportunity; "My involvement with Junior Achievement has given me a chance be involved in student forums, Job Shadowing events, youth leadership conferences and company programs that have put me in contact with an amazingly diverse group of successful people. It has helped me to learn and gain new perspective on the educational requirements, life skills and attitudes that engender success."

 

As financial responsibility continues to gain importance for more and more families, Junior Achievement has the tools necessary to instill responsible spending and saving habits. High impact financial literacy education programs like Capital One/JA Finance Park™ teach youth important financial lessons - such as how to save and how to budget through interactive and engaging programs, so they can become responsible consumers.

Awards received from JA New York partners and funders provide general operating and programmatic support for the implementation of JA in-school and workplace experiences for NYC and Long Island students, grades K-12. We are grateful for the support of our funding partners.

JA New York received a $30,000 grant award from National Grid to support program delivery and National Grid employee fundraising and volunteer efforts.  

HSBC awarded $30,000 to JA New York to support the delivery of the JA More Than Money financial literacy program to local elementary school students.

Start the New Year right by volunteering with

Junior Achievement of New York.

 Giving your time, energy, knowledge and experience is a meaningful and valuable investment to support local economic stability and the future happiness and success of New York City and Long Island students.

Fill out an online volunteer registration form to get young people started on the path to achievement.