5. Meet Jeffrey Jeffrey is a 13-year-old in the Chicago Public Schools. Even though his parents never went to college, he’s always had the dream of “making it.” Sometimes Jeffrey gets discouraged when he hears his friends talk about dropping out when they get halfway through high school because they think they can make more money. Jeffrey thinks he can defy the odds. He’s good at math and has always wondered how he could own his own business…
6. Meet Maria Maria is in first grade and always asks “why?” She is eager to learn and curious about people. When guests come to visit the class, Maria’s focus is intense, and it’s easy to see how much she gets out of new lessons.
7. Meet Aaron Aaron is an eager volunteer. He’s very interested in learning more about how his new employer gives back to the community. He really wants to get involved and is seeking out activities where he can make a difference.
15. Proven Impact Kids in JA elementary school programs are stronger problem solvers than those who don’t experience JA Middle school students boost their business knowledge Students in JA high school programs are more likely to aspire to college and beyond
We are here today to tell you about a great need that exists with youth in our communities and in our schools, and powerful and effective programs that can address this need. Your support is essential in bringing these programs to the youth.
JA’s programs focus on the areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to further our mission.JA delivers on its mission by partnering companies with local schools and providing our youth with a K-12 sequential curriculum and a volunteer who serves as a role model. For the student:JA’s hands-on, activity-based materials allow students to learn experientially, which provides them with a “practical” perspective on business/economics and helps them to develop the necessary life skills that will afford them greater success. For the volunteer:All materials the volunteer will need in the classroom are provided. JA’s user-friendly and age appropriate economics based curriculum makes it easy for the volunteer to prepare for the classroom. All the volunteer needs to do is become familiar with the materials and bring his or her passion into the classroom.
Relevance: Junior Achievement has never been more relevant. JA provides educators with program materials that align closely with state curriculum standards, taught by a volunteer that provides a new perspective and a fresh voice. Given the current economic landscape and future forecasts, the relevancy of JA programs reaches beyond the classroom. Students now more than ever will need to be financially literate, think entrepreneurially (think critically, problem solve, innovate), and be prepared for an increasingly competitive global job market.JA Builds Community:JA helps to provide companies, employees, schools, educators and students with a greater sense of connection.Employees feel better about the company that they work for when they participate in a corporate sponsored volunteer program, i.e. it creates a team atmosphere where they (volunteer) derive meaning through giving back. Volunteers share their rich classroom experiences with fellow volunteers regardless of department or job function.This sense of team or community is amplified when volunteers connect with local schools. Through partnering with a school, companies and volunteers develop a connection with the community. Companies are viewed as good corporate citizens when employees are given the opportunity to give back and share “their unique story.” Impacting a child’s future provides volunteers with an opportunity to be a part of something larger than themselves.JA Works:Just as companies and schools continually monitor their own progress, JA is pleased to be one of the few nonprofits that measures the impact of its programs. Research by an independent third party evaluator, the Worldwide Institute for Research and Evaluation (WIRE), has concluded that JA students are better prepared in the areas of work-readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.
Few could deny that if more people possessed a better understanding of fundamental financial principles, our current economic situation would be significantly less severe. The need for financial literacy has never been greater and really needs to begin with our young people.JA of Chicago has always made it a priority to help our underserved schools first. Given that over 50% of the 390,000 students that will participate in the JA program this year are part of the Chicago Public School (CPS) system, JA views this as a real opportunity to deliver on this goal.JA programs give students a solid foundation in financial literacy. It is also important to note that teens really do value learning and understand the benefits of being financially literate.By participating in JA programs and developing a solid understanding of finances, teens will be better able to capitalize on the growing opportunities in the fields of business and finance, among other careers.
Let me tell you about a couple of our kids and a volunteer. Jeffrey is an example of many of our children. He really wants to succeed, but he needs a roadmap. Through volunteering with JA, you will be amazed by the impact you can make on our youth.By the volunteer sharing his or her experience and how he or she attained their career aspirations, the student begins to understand what is needed to reach their own goals.
Many of our students, like Maria, are eager to learn, and they question the world around them. By providing students with a volunteer from outside their normal day-to-day classroom experience, learning becomes richer and connections between education and future career aspirations become more meaningful.
Aaron is an example of JA’s numerous volunteers that feel the need to give back by sharing their unique experience. It is important to our volunteers that the companies they work for practice good corporate citizenship by providing volunteer opportunities for their employees.This is really a win/win for the employee and employer. Corporate sponsored volunteer programs make employees feel good about where they work, and they also create more skilled, confident employees.
Employees in today's job market are expecting more from their employers than ever before, and this trend will likely increase. Today's employees expect that employers will provide ample opportunities for both personal and professional development. The best companies to work for make it a priority to deliver on this expectation.JA provides companies with an inexpensive way to address these expectations. By giving employees the opportunity to volunteer, JA can help to:Enhance workforce recruitmentIncrease employee satisfactionProvide professional development activities
Note and discuss benefits listed above
JA of Chicago has enjoyed a strong record of success since its charter. This market growth can be attributed to 4 main factors, namely:JA is strongly embraced and valued by our education community (See survey results)Growth in volunteers driven by the notable “return on investment of time” that the volunteer receives from their JA class. Many volunteers state that they feel that they get as much out of the experience as the students do. JA of Chicago is supported by a high level board of directors, and its purpose is embraced by the local business community.Junior Achievement’s business model makes the most efficient use of donor dollars. At only $15 per student, JA of Chicago ranks among the lowest cost of all metro JA markets.
When developing partnerships between businesses and schools, JA recognizes that not one size fits all. Therefore, JA provides tiered and varied levels of support and flexible scheduling options for volunteering: JA in a day vs. Weekly program Whole School or partial school / individual classes Partner with another company to cover whole or partial schoolFunding based on companies' ability to support financially:Whole School Sponsorship; $500 per class for an entire schoolClass Sales; $500 per class for a portion of classes in a given schoolOperatingPersonal gift Special Events - see above
Understanding that the many employees that volunteer also have very busy lives, JA provides the necessary support, structure and flexibility to accommodate a demanding schedule. Each volunteer gains familiarity of the program by participating in training prior to the classroom sessions All materials are provided with easy-to-read lesson plans JA provides several scheduling options to help accommodate busy schedules
Elementary:Our students’ JA experience begins in kindergarten where they participate in a series of 5-6 lessons (visits) at each grade level (35-45 min each visit). Each of our programs align with the Illinois state standards, and the content progresses sequentially through the various grade levels. The lessons are hands-on and activity-based and reinforce life skills and basic business concepts.Middle Grades:At the middle grade level, the number of visits increase to 6-8. The content of the programs at the middle school level begin to delve more extensively into career choices while reinforcing the importance of education and staying in school.
JA’s High School offerings provide students with the tools and knowledge that will help them be successful in the world of work. Although the content at the high school level has greater depth, JA has kept the time commitment manageable by offering programs that only require 5 visits (50-60 min each visit.) The Company Program requires up to 15 visits.Work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship are underscored more prominently at the high school level. For example:JA Success Skills focuses on work readinessJA Presents NEFE focuses on financial literacyJA Be Entrepreneurial focuses on the concepts of entrepreneurship
Just as businesses and schools have their performance measured on a regular basis, JA believes that determining its impact is crucial. We are pleased to be among the few nonprofits that use independent third-party evaluators to measure the effectiveness of our programs.In fact, recent findings have proven that:Even one JA program exposure makes a difference.Students that participate in JA possess a greater comprehension of economics and business than their non-participating peers.Elementary SchoolExternal evaluators found that elementary school students who participate in JA demonstrate significantly higher critical thinking and problem-solving skills than their counterparts.Middle Grades The majority of middle school students (71%) reported that JA helped them recognize the importance of education and motivated them to work harder to achieve educational and work goals. Middle school students understand more about personal finance, business, and economic concepts after participating in JA programs. High School The majority of students (79%) agreed that JA positively influenced their attitudes toward continuing their education. JA students were more likely than students in general to go to college immediately after high school (77% versus 69%). Most students reported that JA made the transition to college easier, encouraged them to work hard, and provided them information that was relevant.
Notes will depend on area/current priorities
The Whole School Program has driven quality and growth for JA of Chicago for nearly two decades. The program allows students to receive JA over the duration of their schooling, thus making the sequential aspect of our program possible – a significant indicator of quality.By participating in the Whole School Program, we find that partnerships develop that often transcend the JA program, e.g. schools may offer to provide the firm with a concert or companies may choose to participate in a cold weather clothing drive for an underserved school. These interactions only help to make the partnership stronger.Note: set expectations by highlighting the above roles and responsibilities.
As was noted earlier, there are many ways to get involved with JA, and we want to find a meaningful way for you to participate. If adopting a Whole School Program is one of your goals, we are committed to locating a school that not only aligns with the number of potential volunteers at your company but also with the level of funding support.As you will note, there are several different levels of support that are dictated by the number of classes in a given school. This roughly translates to $500 per class.
JA provides many options to become involved. We are hoping that you will participate in a way that is meaningful to you and your organization.Please consider the following options as ways that you and your company can make an impact.
Recommendations will be contingent on research of the target company, i.e. companies philanthropic goals/values, number of potential volunteers, and ability to financially support JA.
Thank you for your time – When would be a good time to follow up? What steps can we take now to start a new partnership?