Staff Reports | Community Updates
Junior Achievement of Arizona has received a $100,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support JA BizTown, a program that helps students in fourth through sixth grades develop economic, financial and workplace skills through classroom instruction and hands-on learning experiences.
The funding is expected to provide approximately 1,136 students with the opportunity to participate in JA BizTown, where they learn about business operations, personal finance and career readiness through classroom lessons and a simulated workplace experience, according to a press release.
“The need for real-world education is growing as we see strong current and predicted changes in the economic landscape,” said Katherine Cecala, president of Junior Achievement of Arizona. “The generous funding from Thunderbirds Charities helps us advance our mission and expand pathways for today’s youth. It is our responsibility to prepare Arizona’s next generation, so they have the skills and confidence they need to seize opportunities and face challenges.”
Students begin the program with a series of classroom lessons covering topics such as business plan development, operating costs, marketing strategies and job applications. They then apply those lessons by taking on employee roles for a day in JA BizTown, a student-sized community featuring more than 40 businesses and industries.
“Thunderbirds Charities is proud to support Junior Achievement of Arizona and the JA BizTown program, which gives students the opportunity to experience firsthand what it means to be part of a business and a community,” said Jason Eisenberg, president of Thunderbirds Charities. “By investing in programs that build financial literacy, career readiness and confidence at an early age, we are helping Arizona students develop the skills they need to succeed and become tomorrow’s leaders.”
Junior Achievement of Arizona provides programs focused on personal finance, career exploration and workforce readiness for students from kindergarten through high school. The organization delivers its programs through a volunteer-led model supported by partnerships with 400 schools, nearly 3,200 educators and more than 9,000 volunteers across Arizona.
