AIG and Junior Achievement prepare local students for their futures

Atlanta, GA — Students will learn important entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness skills, thanks to a generous grant from AIG that will be implemented throughout the school year, impacting more than 700 students in JA BizTown and JA Finance Park.

JA BizTown provides students the opportunity to experience their futures firsthand by allowing students to 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.

At JA Finance Park, students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

“One of JA of Georgia’s main goals is to empower young people to own their economic success by helping them understand the benefits of saving, budgeting and investing,” said Juan McGruder, Senior Vice President & CDO, JA of Georgia. “We’re thankful to AIG for providing the resources necessary through this partnership to help our young people grow up to be successful adults.”

This is the fourth year AIG has gifted funds to support Junior Achievement programs to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to make smart academic and economic choices. This year’s grant will serve schools in 22 locations across the U.S. and world. As part of the partnership, AIG employees will engage as volunteers in JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, coaching students through their choices and sharing their own experiences. 

AIG Volunteer talks with students in JA BizTown at the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center

“Junior Achievement is a natural partner for AIG, as we value programming that teaches young people how to make investments and take opportunities to improve their lives, such as saving for college or starting a business,” said Robin Wisely, Commercial Insurance IT.

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

About AIG

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.

Rotary Club of Gwinnett County helps prepare students for future success

ATLANTA, GA - The Rotary Club of Gwinnett County’s Charitable Giving Committee and Board of Directors awarded Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia a grant in the amount of $500 to be used to continue JA of Georgia’s efforts to provide a dynamic learning experience designed to enhance students’ financial literacy and build skills for personal and professional success.

The award will be used specifically to continue funding for the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett – an immersive facility that provides Gwinnett County Public School 6th and 8th graders the opportunity to experience their futures first hand.

The facility houses two separate experiential learning spaces: JA BizTown presented by Cisco and JA Finance Park presented by Assurant. Both experiences begin with in-class curriculum, and culminate with a visit to the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett.

JA BizTown provides students the opportunity to experience their futures first hand by allowing 6th grade students to 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.

At JA Finance Park, 8th grade students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

“Thanks to grants like these, and 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 Juan McGruder, Senior Vice President & CDO, JA 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 serves 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.

Volunteer Spotlight: Kim Wall, Georgia United Credit Union

Kim Wall, bottom right, with her team at the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett

What motivates you to volunteer? 

Georgia United Credit Union encourages community service and volunteerism as a priority for all team members. We receive several paid days off to support community programs like Junior Achievement, and our own Georgia United service projects.

Personally, I love volunteering and sharing my life experiences with the next generation, and seeing how much our team members enjoy working with the middle schoolers. As corporate volunteers, we also represent Georgia United as a positive and responsible business partner with our school systems.

Why JA of Georgia?

Junior Achievement is a great fit for credit unions because we are committed to improving financial literacy for students (and adults!) 

We understand solid money management practices and love to share real-life scenarios to facilitate those “ah-ha” moments.

What’s your best ah-ha moment or memory with JA of Georgia?

Our first-time JA volunteers usually seem a little nervous to work with middle schoolers but once the students receive their lifestyle simulations (“What, I have two kids?!”) and start the budgeting exercises (“How am I going to PAY for all these expenses?!”), things get “REAL” in a hurry!

Students are always surprised at how much things cost (taxes, insurance, etc.) and I suspect quite a few candid family dinner conversations about money take place AFTER a visit to JA. Don’t you?