STATE FARM INSURANCE DONATES TIME AND FUNDING TO BENEFIT LOCAL STUDENTS

Grand Rapids, Mich. – The State Farm Insurance Foundation recently announced it is providing $10,000 in support for Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes to promote its financial literacy, entrepreneurism and career readiness efforts in area K-12 classrooms. When asked why State Farm continues to support JA, local agent, Doug Heins stated that “JA helps young adults by giving them real world projects and insights. JA is a wonderful learning experience for the students, and the volunteer.”

Additionally, State Farm is renewing their commitment to volunteerism with JA for the 2023-2024 school year. This commitment includes that of Heins who decided to give back after learning first-hand the impact JA can make as a student. Utilizing JA programming, students learn what it means to be an entrepreneur and to work in the community. Guided by the JA curriculum, Heins and other State Farm agents share their own experiences as entrepreneurs. “Having volunteers who not only want to share their expertise with the community but also understand the value of sharing the entrepreneurial spirit with students from across the region is truly a treasure,” said Laura Lutterbeck, JAMGL Education Director.

“JA is grateful for our donors and volunteers who work around the region to empower the next generation of students”, said Bill Coderre, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes. “Partners like State Farm Insurance help JA create life changing outcomes for students.” Half of JA alumni report having started one or more businesses in their lifetime, and 72 percent of those who own a business report that it is still operating today. JA alumni are 30 percent more likely to have a college degree and 67 percent more likely than their peers to have an advanced degree. Additionally, JA students move out of poverty at a significantly higher rate and earn on average 20 percent more than the general population.

Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy by providing work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs to K-12 students. If you would like to support Junior Achievement of The Michigan Great Lakes either financially or by volunteering, please call 616-575-9080.

About Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (JAMGL)

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes is the nation’s 21st largest JA chapter and an area office of JA USA, the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. The organization offers programs to help prepare young people in Mid, West, and Northern Michigan for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and are empowered to own their economic success. Visit www.westmichigan.ja.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.6 million students per year in 112 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations in 121 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.