ICIEF’s partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) includes an educational exhibit and interactive game at JA’s Finance Park locations in Fairfax County, VA, and Prince George’s County, MD. JA’s Finance Park program consists of a 14-lesson classroom curriculum for middle school students that develops a foundation in personal finance education, with a day-long culminating experience at Finance Park. There, students put their new skills to the test in a digital, 21st century, innovative learning environment. The “mini-city” houses a variety of storefronts and kiosks, correlating to the personal budget lines each student must manage during their JA Finance Park visit. ICIEF’s “Investing Road Trip” exhibit provides an interactive experience for students to learn more about how saving and investing can help them reach long-term goals.
The Virginia College Savings Plan, also known as Virginia529, has agreed to continue their partnership with Junior Achievement of Greater Washington at JA Finance Park Fairfax County.
Virginia529 partners with several organizations in Virginia to provide volunteers, resources and donations to support the communities in which they live. As part of this legacy of giving back, last year, Virginia529 installed an engaging wall exhibit to educate students on College Savings at the JA Finance Park in Fairfax, Virginia.
JA of Greater Washington was one of 18 JA area offices worldwide selected to once again participate in the JA Worldwide and Bechtel Group Foundation Building Future Leaders 2017 initiative. JA organizations from all six JA Worldwide regions have been invited to participate in the sixth year of this partnership.
The Building Future Leaders initiative, which encourages the engagement of Bechtel volunteers in delivering JA work readiness and entrepreneurship programs, is one of Bechtel’s four signature programs. As part of this partnership, JA of Greater was Washington was awarded a $25,000 grant to complete its work.
Following the success of the 2016 Washington Business Hall of Fame to benefit Junior Achievement, Gala Chair and PenFed Credit Union President and CEO expanded PenFed’s dynamic partnership with Junior Achievement by signing onto its second JA Finance Park storefront partnership—this time as the Transportation Storefront partner at the forthcoming JA Finance Park Montgomery County facility, opening in 2018. This new partnership builds on PenFed’s existing commitment as the Transportation Storefront partner at JA Finance Park Prince George’s County in Landover, Maryland, which serves over 9,000 Prince George’s County Public Schools students each year.
Revere Bank employees recently conducted a financial literacy presentation to students at Gaithersburg Middle School. As part of the seminar, students learned about financial basics, including credit scores and insurance policies. The Revere team also led discussions on the impact of financial decisions and walked the students through simulations based on future potential salaries and spending habits.
On January 30, 2017, JA USA announced that JA of Greater Washington is one of 18 JA area offices to earn the 2015-16 Peak Performance Team Award. This award recognizes superior annual performance by a JA area team in achieving growth in students reached or contact hours delivered, while sustaining financial and operational soundness.
STEM workers are in fierce demand, and not just in places like Silicon Valley.
According to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM professions will expand 1.7 times faster than non-STEM occupations. And given their growing demand, STEM careers today comprise some of the most lucrative employment, paying higher salaries and boasting far fewer threats of unemployment compared with non-STEM jobs. Furthermore, a study released by WalletHub this month named the Washington, D.C. region (“Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV”) the 9th best market for STEM professionals in the United States.
On January 6, 2017, the JA Finance Park® Northern Virginia Advisory Council held their first meeting of the new year at JA Finance Park® Fairfax County.
The Northern Virginia Advisory Council plays an instrumental role in the foundation and sustainability of each of JA Finance Parks® Fairfax County. The council, chaired by Ruth Ann Clark, Senior Vice President & Regional Vice President - Commercial Banking for Wells Fargo & Company, is comprised of prominent community leaders who are highly committed to our mission and empowering our staff to be the best they can be.
