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What is Junior Achievement?

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest non profit organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

Purpose

Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

Program Reach

JA of Northeastern reaches 24,177 students annually. These students represent schools from twelve counties in Northeastern NY from Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls and west to Johnstown.

JA Worldwide reaches approximately 9.79 million students per year in 379,968 classrooms and after-school locations. JA programs are taught by volunteers in inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas throughout the United States and in 122 countries around the world.

Volunteers

JA has programs in 1,231 classrooms throughout Northeastern New York. Each is instructed by volunteer mentors from all walks of life to include business people, college students, parents, and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of the organization.

Proven Success

JA is one of a few global non-profits to use independent, third-party evaluators to gauge the impact of its programs. Since 1993, independent evaluators have conducted studies on JA’s effectiveness. Findings prove that JA has a positive impact in a number of critical areas. These results are available upon request.

Leadership

Frank DeGraw, Senior Vice President of Sunmark Federal Credit Union, is chair of the JA board of directors. Edward P. Murray is president of the organization.  A total of 49 JA board members represent a wide range of businesses and academic institutions throughout the area.  In addition, two advisory committees guide operations in the Adirondack and Mid Hudson Regions.

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, JA 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. Over the last 30 years, JA has expanded its activities and broadened its scope to include in-school and after-school students in grades K-12. JA was first brought to the Capital Region in 1953 by the ELFUNS, a volunteer organization of General Electric. - more-

Funding

JA operates on an annual budget of more than $600,000 generated predominately through private sector funding and special events. Other sources include individual contributors, foundations and service clubs. 

For More Information, Contact:

Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York, Inc.
(Headquarters)

8 Stanley Circle
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 783-4336