For 60 years, Junior Achievement of the Heartland has been teaching kids how to budget their money and job skills. Michelle O'Neill reports.
Summary
Junior Achievement kids may not want to learn about the global economy or financial literacy. But they're very interested in learning how to earn and manage money. This month and next, the Heartland chapter and others are hosting ten bowl-a-thon fundraisers.
Spokeswoman, Tawnya Hambly says Junior Achievement, or J.A., serves more than 55,000 students in 24 counties in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. She says it's important for them to learn as early as kindergarten how to think about money, but it also gives them confidence and helps them know what others expect.
More than 3,100 volunteers help J.A. teach its curriculum in schools. But Hambly says the group can always use more. And J.A.'s curriculum helps schools meet state standards in classrooms.
On Saturday, employees from SSAB will host the steel company's 13th bowl-a-thon for Junior Achievement of the Heartland. They hope to raise about $20,000 this year. Then, a week later (2/27/2-16), J.A. will host five bowl-a-thons, three in the Quad Cities plus Peru and Dixon, Illinois. The full schedule is online HERE.
By the way, along with celebrating its 60th anniversary, the organization's learning lab in downtown Davenport, JA World, is now 15 years old. Formerly known as Exchange City, J.A. offers programs called, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, at 116 W. 2nd Street.
