News from Junior Achievement of Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay

School's back in session and we are pleased to offer our first emailed newsletter published through Constant Contact. JA in Action will keep you apprised of the impact of JA programs, notified about upcoming events, and provide us an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to JA's success.

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JA Alumni becomes Standout Volunteer
Sang Luu - making a difference

"Let's give the award to another team, I can't accept it!" was the humble response from Sang Luu when learning that his team won "Best Bowling Team" at this year's Yahoo! Bowl-a-Thon. An Associate Marketing Manager at Yahoo!, Sang is an instrumental volunteer for Junior Achievement. He jumpstarted and coordinated the first-ever Yahoo! Bowl-a-Thon. He jumpstarted and coordinated the first-ever Yahoo! Bowl-a-Thon. Its second successful event was held this past June. Together, these two events have raised $40,000 for JA programs! Sang also helps to coordinate Yahoo!'s JA in a Day and the recruitment of classroom volunteers.

Sang's passion and dedication for JA, stems from his own JA student experience. As a student at Independence High School in East San Jose, Sang enjoyed his JA Economics class. In his own words, Sang notes:

As a student back in high school, I was given an opportunity to interact with real business people, gathering insights into their profession, education choices, and life experiences. I saw each session as a chance to understand not just academic principles, but real world scenarios as encountered by our consultants. It was a unique experience that helped guide me through my final days as a senior in high school.

After graduating from Independence, Sang attended the University of Southern California, earning a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Since he joined Yahoo! in 2004, Sang has taught three high school classes and two elementary school classes, serving as an outstanding role model to 128 children and youth! He is a true advocate of volunteering for JA:

As a volunteer, I now have the chance to share my experiences in the classroom with students in my community and help bring life to the textbook. It's a fun, rewarding, and fulfilling way to give to the local high school -- I encourage anyone looking to volunteer to try!

JA thanks and appreciates Sang for his dedication!

Intel Makes A Difference
Top Volunteer Company
As we close out the fiscal year, the process of measuring our previous year's success begins. We count students served and volunteers recruited. We count how many sponsorships we gathered and funds we raised. On paper, this tracks the success of our year, but each person who volunteers or supports JA in other ways knows that each child who participates in JA is a story of success.

Each year, JA acknowledges the company that has contributed the most volunteers. For the second year, JA recognizes Intel® Corporation as the top volunteer company. Intel has been a strong supporter of JA programs in communities where its associates live and work. Their continued volunteer support has enabled JA to grow its vital programs and positively impact students' lives. One hundred and eight Intel Corporation volunteers made a difference in 85 classrooms by helping approximately 2,000 students realize and maximize their potential just last year alone, becoming our top volunteer company.

The 1300 JA volunteers are a key to the success of JA. They become a vital part of what our programs strive to offer; positive role models. This year we had sixty-three companies supporting JA programs in our community. Thank you to the network of volunteers who continue to prepare students to flourish as global citizens in the workforce by developing career, financial and entrepreneurial skills.

JA Mexico Exchange 2007
Working across boarders

On June 6th, 2007, nearly 150 students from Anne Darling Elementary in San Jose, CA and Escuela Miguel Angel de Quevedo in Mexico City, Mexico participated in JA Mexico Exchange 2007. This unique partnership enabled JA elementary students and students from Mexico City to interact with each other via video conferencing and pen-pal letters.

In addition to receiving traditional JA programming at their respective schools, students in 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades participated in the JA Mexico Exchange program. The bi-lingual American students wrote pen-pal letters in Spanish to the Mexican students, sharing the lessons learned from their volunteers as well as how people work and live in their communities. After two letter exchanges over the course of a month, students met via video conference.

Using web cameras donated by Logitech coupled with Microsoft's MSN Messenger, students had the opportunity to experience first hand the benefits of technology and instant communication. Most students were awestruck as they began a live chat with their pen pals.

Linda Herschbach, principal of Anne Darling, said of JA Mexico Exchange, "For many of the students, the only time they use computers are in the classroom, so to be able to have this additional bit of technology in their curriculum is absolutely remarkable and completely priceless."

"Fore Kids"
2007 Getaway Golf
"Finally! A golf tournament for the beginner golfer," exclaimed Liz Harris of PricewaterhouseCoopers following JA's 9-hole Getaway Golf tournament held at The Villages Golf & Country Club in May.

The second annual event received rave reviews and raised nearly $40,000 for Junior Achievement's programs! Golfers enjoyed 'get away' themed holes throughout the course. Popular favorites included Comerica's "Italian Hole", where golfers enjoyed Columbus Salami and Chianti donated from Frank-Lin Distributors and KPMG's "Cancun Getaway" complete with blended margaritas! Mark your calendars for next year's tournament, which will be held Thursday, June 5, 2008.

Many thanks go to Event Chair Bob Muzio, representing Title Sponsor Comerica Bank as well as other sponsors including KPMG, DeBartolo Holdings, San Jose Magazine, Celtic Golf Management, CleanSource, CytoSport, Columbus Salame, San Jose Sabercats, The Marcus & Millichap Company, Toeniskoetter & Breeding, Inc. Development and Top Grade Construction.

JA It's My Business
New after school program

Did you know that the idea for Habitat for Humanity International came from Clarence Jordan who founded the famous community farm, Kiononia Farm in Georgia? That Bill Gates created his first computer when he was just thirteen years old? These and many other interesting facts are yours to learn by volunteering to teach the new JA It's My Business after-school program for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

With its particular emphasis on entrepreneurship, while also providing a strong focus on social studies, reading, writing and the use of critical thinking skills that support positive attitudes, it's no wonder that It's My Business is becoming one of the more popular middle school programs with both teachers and volunteers. In its first year available, over thirty-five IMB classes were requested throughout Santa Clara County and that number is expected to grow to forty-five classes in 2007/2008 - that's nearly 1,000 students! Currently, twenty-three requests for IMB have been submitted to JA, with nine requests coming from Union Middle School, six from Morrill Middle School, two from Crittenden Middle School, and six from the YMCA of Santa Clara County - and it's only September!

Sincerely,

Elaine M. Curran

President

Junior Achievement of Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay, Inc.