By srobbins
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September 2, 2010
The Walmart Foundation’s Colorado State Giving Program announces a $75,000 grant for Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc. (JA) to support its mission of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. This grant will help provide JA programs and volunteers to 150 high school classrooms throughout the state of Colorado in 2010, at no charge to the schools or students.
“Walmart’s grant will impact 3,500 Colorado students in high school, when they are most at-risk and most in need of inspiration,” said Robin Wise, President & CEO of Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain Inc. “JA believes that by providing programs that teach financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurial skills to Colorado youth, we can address Colorado’s need for an educated, financially literate workforce with 21st Century workplace skills.”
Of students who have the opportunity to participate in JA programs:
• 67% said that JA made school more interesting,
• 72% said that JA made them more aware of career options,
• 66% said that JA connected what they learn in the classroom to real life,
• 73% said that JA helped prepare them for the future,
• 64% said that JA taught them how to manage money,
• 70% said that JA made them realize the importance of staying in school.
“Along with Junior Achievement, Walmart recognizes that it will take a different kind of employee to succeed in a more global and competitive job market,” said Joshua Phair, Walmart senior manager for public affairs and government relations in Colorado. “Colorado’s next generation of employees is in the classroom right now, and they need the real-world application that JA programs provide. That is why Walmart is proud to support Junior Achievement and their outreach to Colorado students”
By srobbins
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August 10, 2010
Junior Achievement received an astounding 105 applications for our JA Inspiration Scholarship, which provides college-bound recipients $2,000 per year for four years. Since the program began in 2007 JA has awarded 28 scholarships to students, totaling $167,000. This year’s recipients and school they will attend in the fall are:
- Reuben Aguirre, West High School graduate, will be attending the University of Denver
- Tyler Hartman, Mountain Range High School graduate, will be attending Colorado State University
- Jared Leventhal, Pomona High School graduate, will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder
- Carol Skelton, Thunderridge High School graduate, will be attending the Colorado School of Mines
- Gabriel Sullice, Mullen High School graduate, will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder
To read more about these inspirational students and past recipients, click here.
By srobbins
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July 27, 2010
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke referenced Junior Achievement’s efforts around financial literacy education as he delivered his semi-annual report on monetary policy before the Senate Banking Committee last Wednesday. Junior Achievement was the only organization mentioned. What made Chairman Bernanke’s comment so special was that it was made as part of an impromptu response which indicates that it is top of mind. Ed Grenier, the President of Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area (Washington, DC) recently provided Chairman Bernanke a personal tour of the JA Finance Park facility under construction in Fairfax County, VA. He was so impressed with the concept and Ed was such a great salesperson that Chairman Bernanke has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the JA Finance Park facility in October.
Click on the link below to see Bernanke’s entire presentation (the JA mention is around 1:23:00.) http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/07/21/HP/A/35759/Senate+Banking+Cmte+Hearing+with+Fed+Chair+Bernanke.aspx
By srobbins
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July 12, 2010
Marla Zuch, project manager for Wells Fargo’s Technology and Operations group in Denver, was the recipient of a Volunteer Leave, which let her begin a month-long sabbatical as a Company Advisor at JA Business Week, while still receiving her regular Wells Fargo pay and benefits. Zuch is one of 30 Wells Fargo team members across the company to receive the award this year.
Zuch first learned about JA, nearly three years ago, through a seminar held at Wells Fargo. She was inspired by the idea of working with and sharing ideas and values with children. Soon after the seminar, she contacted JA and was paired with a school and a teacher. Since her first session with second graders in Ms. Nelson’s class at Stuckey Elementary in Northglenn, she has expanded her JA program to three other schools, four additional teachers and first-grade students. During her Volunteer Leave, Zuch used the skills she has developed through an MBA education and 33 years of banking and project management experience to help JA Business Week students develop a marketing plan. Zuch was a Company Advisor at JA Business Week, and spent the week working with first-year students as they developed a new smoothie flavor for Jamba Juice.
“It is a strength of Wells Fargo that so many of our team members serve as leaders in their communities and are willing share their time and talent to help the communities where we live and work succeed,” said Don Marshall, Wells Fargo’s regional president for Denver Metro. “As one of the few companies in America to offer fully-paid sabbaticals for community service, we believe it’s important to give team members an opportunity to act on their passion for making an impact with a nonprofit of their choice. Marla has shown incredible dedication to Junior Achievement and we’re pleased that she can devote more of her time and talent to this organization.”
By JA_Guest
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June 18, 2010
Today was our last day of planning for all events! All project plans, executive summaries, and PowerPoint presentations were due Thursday at 6:30 PM. We had company meetings from 2:30 to 6:30 to finalize projects and practice presentations. However in the morning we met in the auditorium to learn how to “Protect Your Finances” with Julie McLean of Arapahoe Credit Union. We learned about debit cards vs. credit cards, how to protect your identity, and how to manage finances and bills. Afterwards, all companies met in their respective rooms and met with a volunteer to learn about presentation skills. Personally, my company learned about the importance of smiling, eye contact, and how to use a PowerPoint presentation to our benefit. After we wrote letters thanking our lovely sponsors, who helped fund business week, we went to the Entrepreneurial Summit and Lunch where we heard from three entrepreneurs, Tom Cella with Spectrum General Contractors, John Griffith with Alpine Waste and Recycling, and Armondo Martin with XL Edge, who taught us about maintaining a business and pulling a profit. After that, we learned how to start a business thanks to Jeff Gilbert, who is a professor at Johnson and Wales University, and an entrepreneur also, owning a business called SBDC. After that all companies got “crackin’” to finalize their projects. After dinner was the end-of-week DANCE! Well, we certainly hope you have enjoyed our blog of Junior Achievement’s Business Week. We’ll see you next year!