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News Room :: Fact Sheet

WHAT IS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA^®
Junior Achievement USA is the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.

Junior Achievements programsin the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacyignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

PURPOSE
Junior Achievements purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

PROGRAM REACH
Junior Achievement USA reaches four million students per year in 173,000 classrooms and after-school locations. JA programs are taught by volunteers in inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas throughout the USA, in more than 120 Area Offices in all 50 states.

VOLUNTEERS
Junior Achievements 167,000 classroom volunteers come from all walks of life, including; business people, college students, parents, and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization.

PROVEN SUCCESS
JA is one of a few non-profits to use independent, third-party evaluators to gauge the impact of its programs. Since 1993, independent evaluators have conducted studies on JAs effectiveness. Findings prove that JA has a positive impact in a number of critical areas. These results are available free upon request. Summaries of the findings also are published in the JA Programs section at www.ja.org.

LEADERSHIP
Jonas Prising, president-Americas of ManpowerGroup, is chairman of the Junior Achievement USA board of directors. Jack E. Kosakowski is the president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA. Junior Achievement board members represent a wide range of businesses and academic institutions around the world. In addition, approximately 4,500 board members lead JA Offices around the U.S.

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.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Junior Achievement USA is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and provides strategic direction, leadership, and support to approximately 1,350 employees throughout the
U.S. Local volunteer boards of directors comprised of business, education, and civic leaders set the policy and direction for each local office.

OUR VALUES
Belief in the boundless potential of young people.
Passion for what we do, and honesty, integrity, and excellence in how we do it.
Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration.
Commitment to the principles of market based economics and entrepreneurship.
Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning.
Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives, and backgrounds of all individuals.

For More Information, Contact:
Junior Achievement USA Headquarters
One Education Way
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
719-540-8000
Web site: www.ja.org


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