Empowering young people to own their economic success.

MAY 27, 2014

AT&T TEAMS UP WITH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

On May 1st, Junior Achievement partnered with AT&T to offer AT&T Job Shadow. One hundred and one at-risk high school students visited AT&T and teamed up with employees to learn life lessons and career skills.

With more than 1 million students failing to graduate on time each year, AT&T commits to providing Jacksonville students with mentoring opportunities to help prepare them for future success.

"We are very excited to continue working with Junior Achievement as we mobilize our employees to provide 1 million hours of mentoring across the country," said Heather Duncan, Regional Director, AT&T Florida. "We believe that the relationships formed and lessons learned during Job Mentoring can help students stay on track to graduate from high school and succeed in college, the workforce and beyond."

Jacksonville AT&T employees with students they mentored for a day.

CITI VOLUNTEERS TEACH "JA-IN-A-DAY"

Fifty Citi volunteers taught grades K-5 at Crown Point Elementary on May 8.

"My one-day experience was a lot of fun, and I was very impressed with the kids' enthusiasm throughout the day," said Randy Richards, Internal Fraud Investigator, Citi. "They were very excited for me to be there, and sad to see me leave, which is a testament that the program truly does inspire kids to want to learn more."

Clockwise, from top left: Randy Richards, Twana Pantin, Aimee Gast, JA lesson materials.

THIRD ANNUAL JACKSONVILLE WI$E MONEY WEEK

Wi$e Money Week is a week of activities and events celebrating the importance of good money management and providing financial education to the community.

A special installment of this week features Junior Achievement classes at various Duval schools. As a result, 165 volunteers taught JA to 3,100 students at six elementary schools.

Wi$e Money volunteers at Oak Hill Elementary.

Volunteers at Joesph Finegan Elementary.

Joseph Finegan Elementary's volunteer group.

STARBUCKS FOUNDATION GRANT HELPS STUDENTS BECOME WORKFORCE-READY

Earlier this year, Junior Achievement of North Florida received a $10,000 Starbucks Youth Leadership Grant to carry out its JA Work$ initiative that teaches workforce preparation to high school students.

Students from Ed White, Lee, and Ribault High Schools were recruited to participate. They learned about resume writing, job interviews and the responsibilities of work through JA Career Success and JA Personal Finance, then were given a "job" of teaching JA lessons to elementary school students.

Like all real jobs, students will be evaluated on their performance. They will receive compensation in the form of a stipend.

According to one student participant, the JA program taught them the importance of prioritization, budgeting, and that "it is important to develop a plan for your future."

"JA Work$ is the perfect combination of taking theories learned in the classroom and applying them practically," said JA Boy$ Program Manager Jonathan Bishop. "We want to give the student participants a peek into the real-world and what it takes to succeed."

JA Work$ participants from Ribault High School ready to teach kindergarten and first grade classes at Sallye B. Elementary.

"I learned how to manage money. I also learned the value of saving."

-12th grade student, Ribault High School, JA Work$ participant

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Each month we introduce you to a few of our Board members.

Scott Sauer, Kelly DeGance, Mike Del Rocco, Rob Sandlin

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Wells Fargo has been a supporter of our community's youth through Junior Achievement for many years. The bank's presence is not only felt here in North Florida, but throughout the State. Wells Fargo has been an elite financial supporter of Junior Achievement of North Florida and is a member of the prestigious Horace Moses Society - our major donor "club". Wells Fargo team members also teach JA classes in Duval County. The combination of financial support and volunteers helps insure JA's success. On July 1, Charlie Kauffman, Senior VP of Commercial Lending for Wells Fargo, will take over the reins as Chairman of the Board of Directors. We look forward to his and Wells Fargo's continued leadership in the future.

Friends of Richard Maxwell

We normally use this space to highlight major contributors. There are some contributions, however, that are small in amount and large in meaning. Richard Maxwell passed away earlier this month and requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to JA of North Florida. We continue to receive many $25 and $50 checks "In Memory of Dick Maxwell". Dick was the President of the national JA organization from 1970 through 1982. He played a critical role in some very important developments in JA during his tenure, including expansion into in-school programs in the mid-70s with Project Business for Middle School and then Business Basics for Elementary School in the years that followed. He laid the foundation for the sequential learning model JA employs today. For his leadership, Dick was inducted into the JA Professional Staff Hall of Fame in 1986. Junior Achievement presents an annual "Richard Maxwell Award" to an individual who, like Dick, goes above and beyond for Junior Achievement.

UPCOMING EVENTS