EMPOWER ® THE FUTURE PROGRESS REPORT PUBLICATION OF THIS PROGRESS REPORT IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF Junior Achievement’s Purpose is to inspire and prepare young JA Core people to succeed in a global economy. Core Values: Values Belief... Commitment... Passion... Respect... Belief... Conviction... in the boundless to the principles of for what we do and for the talents, in the power of in the educational potential of market-based honesty, integrity, creativity, perspectives, partnership and and motivational young people economics and and excellence in and backgrounds of all collaboration impact of relevant, entrepreneurship how we do it individuals hands-on learning A Message from our President and Chair- woman Laurie A. Mahoney - President Gail E. Ettaro - Board Chair In 2018, our Junior Achievement an after-school club to teach of print, digital and human resources office will turn 60; then in 2019, the young people the economic skills for a complete learning experience. global organization will turn 100! necessary to be successful in this With a focus on preparing students Have you ever wondered what are new business environment. With with the skills needed to succeed the qualities and competencies the vision of JA’s founders and the in the 21st Century, JA programs of organizations that are able support of local business leaders, expand beyond students’ core to continue to thrive and grow the Junior Achievement model subject matter to lessons that through so many generations? was born. The success of this teach life and career skills; lessons model brought JA programs into For Junior Achievement, as is that provide students with an high school classrooms in the probably true for most businesses opportunity to become financially 1970s, teaching free enterprise with incredible longevity, some capable, think critically and concepts, business acumen and common characteristics are creatively, communicate clearly financial literacy with volunteers shared. A few of the ingredients and collaborate to solve problems; sharing real-life experiences and for a sustainable business model lessons that prepare young people examples. Junior Achievement include: remaining relevant, to be innovative and entrepreneurial continued to develop its program knowing your market, providing in their approach to their life and offerings and now serves exceptional customer service, career beyond high school. kindergarten through 12th graders delivering beyond a customer’s It is critical to remain relevant, in their classrooms or in after-school expectations, hiring passionate, especially in today’s world where and out-of-school settings. dedicated and highly skilled something new is introduced daily. people and listening carefully To remain relevant, Junior Junior Achievement is once again as your customer’s wants and Achievement is in the midst of a executing its recipe for success by needs change. transformation. Through its JA delivering just what the customer Education Gateway initiative, JA When you look back at almost 10 ordered; contemporary, mission is infusing a digital component decades of Junior Achievement, focused learning experiences that into JA’s middle and high school you see an organization that began inspire and prepare young people programs, creating a blended as the trend-setter. In 1919, as the to succeed in a global economy. learning environment that is world evolved from an agriculture- Join us to inspire the next refreshing and engaging for based economy to an industrial- generation… together we can students, teachers and volunteers. based business world, the founders prepare young people for the This change offers an integration of Junior Achievement launched next 100 years. Volunteer hours were spent inspiring and preparing 14,217 90,117 students to succeed in a global economy Programs Overview JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT’S PROGRAMS help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Programs correlate to state learnings standards and through our unique volunteer-led delivery, students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities. JA’s elementary school programs are the foundation of its K-12 curricula and work to change students’ lives by helping them understand business and economics related concepts. • JA Ourselves® (Kindergarten) • JA Our Region® (4th grade) • JA Our Families® (1st grade) • JA Our Nation® (5th grade) • JA Our Community® (2nd grade) • JA More than Money® (3rd-5th grade) • JA Our City® (3rd grade) The middle grades (6-8) programs build on concepts the students learned in JA’s elementary school program and helps teens make difficult decisions about how to best prepare for their future. • JA Economics for Success® • JA It’s My Business® • JA Finance Park® • JA It’s My Future® • JA Global Marketplace® As high school students begin to position themselves for their future, there are many unanswered questions about what lies ahead. Junior Achievement’s high school (grades 9-12) programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future while learning the skills of a 21st century learner (collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking) that will make them a highly effective employee. • JA Be Entrepreneurial® • JA Finance Park® • JA Career Success™ • JA Job Shadow™ • JA Company Program® • JA Personal Finance® • JA Economics® • JA Titan® • JA Exploring Economics® After participating in of middle and high school students a JAWNY program, 97% believe they will graduate high school 1 JA Business Plan Challenge THIRTEEN TEAMS competed in the eighth annual JA Business Plan Challenge on April 28th at Bryant & Stratton College in Orchard Park. Joseph Pesany, from Lancaster High School, took top honors for his idea for a pocket-sized Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Pesany, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, was passionate about a portable AED that would allow for a quicker response time, giving the victim a better chance of survival. Pesany was awarded a $2,000 scholarship provided by Delta Air Lines, and the opportunity to present his idea at the 43North Final Pitch sessions in October 2016. Second and third place were awarded to students from first-time participant, Amherst High School. Michala Alessandra was awarded second place and the $1,000 John Lord Hettrick, Sr. Memorial Scholarship for her business idea, Custom Clothing. Third place winner, Gurlin Kaur, received a $500 scholarship provided by Junior Achievement of WNY’s Board of Directors. Amherst High School Dan Greene, 43North Participating Judges Mickey Hyde, Tompkins-Bank of Castile Nick Pellicore, John Miskey & Associates, Participating Lancaster High School Ameriprise Financial Associates, Inc. Christy Kunz, Junior Achievement USA Matthew Pelkey, Colligan Law Lockport High School Melissa Boland, Forcepoint Joster Macedo, an International Finance Professional Nathan Riexinger, Canisius College Schools Lauren E. Budzich, Babson College Student, 2015 Student, 2014 JA Business Plan Challenge Riverside Institute of Technology JA Business Plan Challenge 2nd place winner Rita Markle, Performance Management Partners winner Erin M. Cole, Empire State Development Earl McCartney, Hamister Group West Seneca East High School John Rushton, Empire Genomics PJ DiPirro, John Miskey & Associates, Ameriprise John Miskey, John Miskey & Associates, Rob Wynne, Wynne Creative Group West Seneca West High School Financial Associates, Inc. Ameriprise Financial Associates, Inc. JA Empower The Future® Our first JA EMPOWER THE FUTURE event was held August 26, 2015 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Buffalo. Local educators and corporate executives came together EMPOWER to learn about opportunities to empower our youth, businesses, and communities ® THE FUTURE through involvement with Junior Achievement. Speakers included: • Lauren Budzich, 2015 JA Business Plan Challenge Winner [2nd place] & JA Alumna • Colleen Christmann, Director of Academics and Career and Technical Education at West Seneca Central Schools & JA Board Member • Gary Crosby, CEO & President of First Niagara Financial Group • Jane DiMaggio, Unit Manager at Travelers Insurance & JA Volunteer • Gail Ettaro, Senior Director, Marketing at LPCiminelli & Chair of JA Board of Directors • Mark Hamister, Chairman & CEO of Hamister Group, LLC & JA Alumnus • John Persons, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Merchandising, Tops Friendly Markets • Jeffrey Tredo, Director of NYS Colleges at Bryant & Stratton College & Vice Chair of JA Board of Directors During the event, guests also had the opportunity to experience several JA programs and interact with some current JA students. classrooms and community organizations welcomed 685 Junior Achievement volunteers in to work with their students 2 JA Stock Market Challenge With OVER 410 LOCAL STUDENTS participating, the 2015 JA Stock Market Challenge event was our biggest event to date. M&T Bank is the Presenting Sponsor for this unique event which enabled students from 25 high schools to experience the unpredictable highs and lows of the stock market. Student teams start with a $500,000 stock portfolio of fictitious money and have to make various investment decisions over a 60-day period, in which each day is 60 seconds long. Quick thinking and decision making are key in this fast paced event. Top Three Teams First Place: