About Us
We’re empowering the next generation by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to make smart academic, career, and economic choices. Delivered by 9,500+ business and community volunteer mentors, our hands-on, age-appropriate programs focus on three key areas: financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship.
We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization wholly dependent on the financial and volunteer support of individuals, foundations, and businesses. Our in-classroom programs are offered at no cost to teachers or students.
We have two offices: we’re headquartered in Tempe, where our two JA BizTown® facilities are located, and we have another office in Tucson, where we serve our Southern Arizona students and partners. We are a member of Junior Achievement USA.
OUR MISSION
To prepare Arizona learners, K-25, to succeed in work and life
WHAT INSPIRES US
It’s our responsibility to empower future generations — to give them the tools they need to pursue and accomplish their goals. These are our kids, grandchildren, future colleagues, and community leaders. The success of our economy depends on their preparedness.
That’s why we’re dedicated to teaching students the importance of money management, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking. Arming today’s youth with this critical education will result in less financial instability and debt, a better-trained workforce, a more robust economy, and healthier families.
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of JA Alumni report JA played an important role in their belief they could achieve their goals
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of JA alumni report that JA was a great experience overall
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of JA alumni say JA exposed them to new ways of thinking
JA PILLARS
Financial Literacy
Students learn how to make smart economic choices that support their future goals.
Career Readiness
Students explore future career paths and learn skills that will prepare them to enter the workforce.
Entrepreneurship
Students develop the mindset and skills necessary to succeed as business owners.
Who We Serve
Junior Achievement is committed to promoting a more equitable and just tomorrow. Our innovative programs allow us to reach 190,000 primarily low-income, diverse students annually. We serve students from all different geographic areas of Arizona, ranging from rural, suburban, urban, and tribal communities.
JA 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. They wanted to teach kids about business and how the United States economy functioned. The first JA program, The Company Program, was offered to high school students after school. Under the guidance of business mentors, students set up their own businesses and then manufactured and sold products and services.
In 1957, JA came west to Arizona, launching its first office in Tucson. In 1975, JA entered the classroom and gradually began offering programs at all grade levels, kindergarten through high school, expanding the curriculum to encompass financial literacy and work readiness education, in addition to the entrepreneurship training.
In 2001, JA launched the experiential program JA BizTown® at its current headquarters in Tempe, and then JA Finance Park® in 2009. In the following years, the organization added additional experiential and in-classroom programs that now reach 190,000 AZ students each year. Thanks to the support of local individuals, foundations and businesses, JA has served more than
3 million students in its 65+ year history.
KEEP UP WITH JA
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