Volunteers provided students with critical mentoring and positive role models

Atlanta, GA – Junior Achievement USA® (JA) today announced that it will honor GE, Truist Financial Corporation and UPS as 2019-2020 U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award recipients in appreciation of their valued partnership and support despite the limitations on volunteerism due to the pandemic. Truist Financial Corporation will receive a Gold award, and GE and UPS will receive Bronze awards. The U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award will be presented to 50 organizations at a virtual awards ceremony and celebration presented by American Express on February 3rd at 2 pm ET.

In 2003, President George W. Bush established the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation (the Council) to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make in communities and encourage more people to serve. The Council created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor individuals who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. In 2006, Junior Achievement became an official certifying organization for this award, which recognizes corporations with a U.S. presence that provide volunteers to teach JA programs anywhere in the world.

"Junior Achievement volunteers are important mentors for young people, bringing our programs to life. Our volunteers share their experiences and skills with students while at our JA Discovery Centers and with our 3DE students, providing an example of what their future success could look like. Our partnerships with GE, Truist Financial Corporation and UPS are integral to our organization’s success and are a vital part of our mission," said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia.

“Junior Achievement volunteers help build communities by empowering the next generation’s success,” said Allison Dukes, Chair, JA of Georgia Board of Directors, and CFO & Senior Managing Director, Invesco Ltd. "JA could not exist without the dedication of its volunteers. We are grateful for this opportunity to recognize their invaluable support."

Junior Achievement’s kindergarten through high school programs are delivered across the country by a network of nearly 152,000 volunteers, including 14,000 in Georgia. JA programs provide innovative, hands-on work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy education to more than 170,000 students in the state each year.

The complete list of recipients can be found here.