Junior Achievement of Chicago’s 75th Anniversary Week of Impact
Monday, April 27th through Friday, May 1st
About Junior Achievement of Chicago:
At Junior Achievement, we give young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for
their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Our corporate and community volunteers deliver hands-on
experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work
readiness and entrepreneurship.
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2015, Junior Achievement of Chicago was founded locally in 1940 and sets the
standard for other JA offices nationwide. JA of Chicago is the largest area office in the nation and will reach 515,000
students during the 2014-2015 school year. In fact, with such a strong presence throughout the franchise, one in five
students within the twelve JA of Chicago outreach counties will receive JA programs this school year. Our partnership
with Chicago Public Schools is particularly strong, as one in three students in CPS will receive JA programs. JA of
Chicago has also maintained exceptional financial stability (on budget, steady cash flow, low cost per student, and funded
endowment), even during these difficult economic times.
JA of Chicago’s 75th Anniversary Week of Impact:
During the week of April 27th through May 1st, 75 Chicago Public Schools will receive JA’s proven programs in honor of
our 75th Anniversary. Together with supporters from area corporations, small businesses, community organizations,
universities and colleges, thousands of volunteers will enter CPS classrooms to engage at-risk youth with JA’s business
and economic educational curriculum.
The 75th Week will be a showcase of JA’s flagship “Whole School Program.” JA's Whole School Program provides ageappropriate lessons JA students and ensures that all children experience JA consistently throughout their formative years.
In the Whole School Program, students learn in an interactive environment, developing an understanding of how the
global economy works. The program is unique because companies can adopt an entire school in the neighborhood in
which they does business. The students benefit from JA’s programs, while company employees have the opportunity to
develop a meaningful bond with the community they serve.
75th Anniversay Week of Impact Co-Chairs:
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Barbara Byrd-Bennett, CEO, Chicago Public Schools
Terry Mazany, President & CEO of The Chicago Community Trust
Jeff Malehorn, President & CEO, World Business Chicago
David Nelms, Chairman & CEO, Discover Financial Services, Chairman of Junior Achievement of Chicago’s
Board of Directors
For more information on this special anniversary initiative, please visit www.jachicago.org.