Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties
Empowering Young Leaders – Encouraging Young Lives
Amount Granted: $55,800

Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties believes every child deserves an education in economics and finances in order to inspire and prepare them for success in a global economy. The Empowering Young Leaders – Encouraging Young Lives program targets 1,395 students in K through 5th grade at two Title One schools: Porter and Fay Elementary. The goal of the program is to prepare low-income, at-risk students in K through 5th to succeed in the global economy by making the learning “relevant to the real world,” and to expose students to knowledge they may not receive at home.

The activities of the program include a hands-on financial curriculum targeting specific issues at each grade level on topics including workforce readiness and career preparation. The material is presented in the classroom by a volunteer for one hour a week over a five week period. The teachers reinforce the concepts taught in the program throughout their courses. The 5th grade students receive an additional 20 hours of education culminating in a trip to “Biz Town,” a simulated financial city, where they can practice their financial skills.

SDWF funds will support salaries for the classroom management, volunteer recruitment, volunteer and teacher training, and pre- and post-curriculum testing to evaluate the success of the program.