AIG and JA of Georgia prepare local students for the workplace

Grant to help implement Junior Achievement programs at JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center

Atlanta, GA — Local students were able to experience their futures fist-hand, thanks to a generous grant from American International Group, Inc. (AIG) that was implanted through Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia at the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center.

Over the course of the 2015-2016 school year, 44 AIG volunteers served 784 students from middle schools across metro Atlanta as they participated in JA BizTown® and JA Finance Park®

“I enjoyed the level of engagement from the kids,” said Kevin Chaney, an AIG volunteer. “They were prepared before they came and that made the day much more exciting for everyone. I enjoyed getting to briefly know the kids, it’s great to see how smart they are and how much they want to learn more.”

Volunteers helped to fuel ambitions and inspire independence in the students by bringing an unparalleled authenticity to the simulations. They provided guidance as the students navigated their way through their days, helping students to run their business in JA BizTown and to effectively budget in JA Finance Park. Their real-life examples from their experiences as adults helped students to connect their education to their future possibilities, and provided a fresh point of reference for success.   

This is the third year AIG has gifted funds to support JA programs to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to make smart academic and economic choices. Totaling $400,000, this year’s grant will serve schools in 20 global locations, including: Amarillo, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Chicago; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas; Greensboro, N.C.; Houston; Los Angeles; Neptune, N.J.; New York, Oakdale, Minn.; Stevens Point, Wis.; Dublin, Ireland; Madrid, Spain; Jakarta, Indonesia; Muntinlupa City, Philippines; Bogota, Colombia; and Toronto, Ontario.   

JA’s programs are in direct correlation with AIG’s commitment to supporting financial education and workforce readiness.

About AIG

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization serving customers in more than 100 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional, and individual customers through one of the most extensive worldwide property-casualty networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of life insurance and retirement services in the United States. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

 Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter: @AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/aig

 AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

Allstate continues partnership with Junior Achievement of Georgia to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s economy

ATLANTA, GA- Allstate announced today the continuation of its partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia, and its efforts to provide a dynamic learning experience designed to enhance students’ financial literacy and build skills for personal and professional success. Allstate has an interactive storefront in JA BizTown presented by Cisco, one of two simulations located within the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett.

JA BizTown provides students the opportunity to experience their futures first hand. Here 6th grade students interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. The students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also the abundance of opportunities available within their city.

The experience begins in the classroom with JA provided curriculum that culminates with a day at JA BizTown. The simulation creates an opportunity where students are able to participate in an interactive economy and take on the role of employee and consumer. During the visit to JA BizTown, students receive job assignments and work in teams at their assigned business. By the end of the simulation each student completes a day’s work, develops a personal budget, and makes purchasing decisions.

 The interactive simulation provides sixth grade students the opportunity to not only learn about finances and careers, but allows them to transform into adults for the day, becoming the sole decision maker and taking ownership of their professional success.

“Thanks to partnerships with Gwinnett County Public Schools and the local business community, we are able to give students an authentic and relevant experience that leaves a lasting and measurable impact,” said Jack Harris, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Georgia. “Together we are shaping the next generation into individuals who are equipped to lead our community and play an integral role in our economy.”

The JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett opened in August 2015 and will serve more than 25,000 middle school students a year from Gwinnett County Public Schools. It is the second JA Discovery Center in the state, bringing the immersive facilities’ annual impact to more than 60 percent of metro Atlanta middle school students.

Atlanta teens receive personal finance skills with AT&T and JA of Georgia

ATLANTA, GA—JA of Georgia brought important financial literacy lessons to students in Atlanta as part of a contribution from AT&T and its AT&T Aspire initiative. Seventh grade students at Columbia Middle School experienced the 13-week JA Finance Park® program, which helps students build a foundation of personal finance skills through in-class learning and an experiential and authentic simulation.

JA Finance Park® begins in the classroom, with teacher-led lessons about topics like income, saving, debit and credit. The program culminates in an immersive half-day simulation onsite at the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center. The simulation gives students the opportunity to apply classroom learning by creating a family budget based on hypothetical life situations assigned to the students, such as job, salary, and family situation.

“Many of these students haven’t been exposed to managing finances, either because they haven’t had those conversations with their parents or haven’t had access to financial literacy programs in school,” said Jack Harris, President & CEO, JA of Georgia. “At JA Finance Park®, we aren’t just telling students how to manage budgets; we’re giving them the opportunity to make decisions and dictate the outcomes themselves.

 At JA Finance Park students have the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. The immersive simulation, combined with the relevant experience of the volunteers, enables students to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment, and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

“It is important to give every student an equal opportunity to learn basic financial skills like budgeting, managing credit and understanding a salary,” said Diane Watson, AT&T Services. “Watching that moment when it ‘clicks’ for a student is what makes this such an important investment – seeing them understand the tradeoff for buying those basketball season tickets is that their family may not be able to buy groceries that month. Students walk away with a much better understanding of what sacrifices their parents make for them and what it means to be a financially responsible adult.”

Established in 2003, JA Finance Park® is one of Junior Achievement USA's most successful programs, and more than 1 million students across the United States have gone through the experiential learning program since it first began.

The partnership between JA of Georgia and AT&T is a continuation of their joint commitment to providing learning experiences that help young people in the community develop the competence, confidence and character to make smart academic and economic decisions. AT&T volunteers assist in the delivery of JA Finance Park®, as a part of the company’s Aspire Mentoring Academy program. Through Aspire Mentoring Academy, AT&T employees connect with students to help them discover their passions and potential. Aspire Mentoring Academy is part of AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature initiative to promote student success in school and beyond.

See what students and executives are saying about JA Finance Park®: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaPFDYRdSVY

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. In 2014, nearly $127 million was contributed or directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature education initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring.