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WHAT IS JUNIOR
ACHIEVEMENT (JA)?:
It is the world's largest and fastest growing organization dedicated to
educating young people about business, economics, and free enterprise.
JA's programs are taught by classroom volunteers from the business
community in both the United States and over 100 countries worldwide. |
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PURPOSE:
Junior Achievement
educates and inspires young people to value free enterprise, business
and economics to improve the quality of their lives. |
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MISSION:
Junior Achievement will ensure that every child in America has a
fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system. |
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KEY PROGRAMS:
Programs span grades K-12, with age-appropriate curricula designed to
teach elementary students about their roles as individuals, workers, and
consumers and to prepare middle grade and high school students for key
economic and workforce issues they will face. Programs consist of 5-15
activities. In addition to bringing the free enterprise system to life
in the classroom, Junior Achievement programs teach young people the
importance of staying in school. The organization also offers programs
for young people who may have difficulty graduating from high school. JA
has entered the online world with its newest program, JA TITAN, a
business simulation exercise delivered via the Internet. |
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WHOM DOES IT REACH?
Through over 150 domestic affiliates, Junior Achievement impacts more
than 4 million U.S. students each year in cities, suburbs and rural
areas. Junior Achievement International impacts more than 1 million
students each year in over 100 countries. Junior Achievement of
Northwest Florida volunteers impacted over 5,500 students last year. |
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SCOPE:
Junior Achievement programs are used by teachers in more than 175,000
classrooms annually. In the local area JA programs are placed in over
200 classes each year. |
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PROVEN SUCCESS:
Studies conducted from 1993-1999 on JA’s educational impact by the
Western Institute for Research and Evaluation (WIRE) found that students
participating in JA’s elementary programs have a greater
comprehension of economic concepts and skills than their
non-participating peers. In addition, students participating in the
elementary programs over consecutive years acquire significantly more
economics and business knowledge than those taking Junior
Achievement for the first time. WIRE evaluations completed at middle
school level in 1997-98 showed that JA students consistently scored
higher on tests that measure understanding of economic concepts than
their non-participating peers. WIRE’s evaluation of JA’s high school
programs in 2000 found that students who participate in JA programs have
improved critical-thinking skills. |
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VOLUNTEERS:
Junior Achievement's 150,000+ classroom volunteers come from all walks
of life and include business people, college students, military
personnel and retirees. Over 200 volunteers participate in the
Northwest Florida Area. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of
the organization. |
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A BRIEF HISTORY:
Junior Achievement was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, president of
American Telephone & Telegraph; Horace Moses, president of Strathmore
Paper Co.; and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts. Its first program,
The Company Program, was offered to high school students on an
after-school basis. In 1975, the organization entered the classroom with
the introduction of Project Business for the middle grades. In
the last 28 years, Junior Achievement gradually expanded its activities
and broadened its scope to encompass an ever-widening student
population. Theo Baars, Fred Gronmeyer and Vince Whibbs started Junior
Achievement of Pensacola in 1958 with the after school “Company
Program.” In 1984 the in school program was implemented and in 1990
Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida was created to include Escambia,
Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Washington counties. |
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LEADERSHIP:
Samuel A. DiPiazza, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Pricewaterhouse
Coopers, is National Chairman; David Chernow is National President and
Chief Executive Officer. Frances Yeo is the Executive Director of
Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, Inc. and Blair Crooke, Gulf
Coast Traffic Engineers, is the local Chairman of the Board. |
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FUNDING:
Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida Inc. is funded by over 90% by
corporate and private donations and less than 10% from governmental
sources. JA does not receive United Way funding. Programs are provided
at no cost to the schools. |
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ORGANIZATIONAL
OVERVIEW:
Junior Achievement
Inc. is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The national
office and service center provides strategic direction, leadership and
support to over 1,350 employees in more than 150 local operations in all
50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The local office
is located at and can be reached by:
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Let Their Success Be Your Inspiration!℠ |