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Contribute to Junior Achievement of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley Online

You can now give to JA online, simply click on this link http://www.ja.org/involved/involved_contrib_give1.shtml, and select Reading, PA.  Your gift will be processed by JA Worldwide through PayPal.com.  JA Worldwide does not charge JA of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley any fees, all of your contribution will support JA of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley. 

Junior Achievement of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, to which contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.  Gifts are processed by and receipts are disbursed by PayPal.com.

Volunteering: What it Takes!

Junior Achievement volunteers teach fun, interactive lessons about business to kids in grades Kindergarten through 12^th grade, helping them understand business and free enterprise. We have opening to teach JA classes throughout the school year. Contact the JA office for more information.

How much time will it take?

Very little! The time commitment is very small compared to the lasting impact you will have on the students:

Elementary School - One hour a week for five weeks
Middle School - One hour a week for 7 - 10 weeks
High School - One hour a week for 7 - 15 weeks

Do I have to know how to teach?

NO! Junior Achievement makes it easy by providing training, step by step materials and prepared activities. The Junior Achievement staff is available to assist you whenever necessary. You don't have to have teaching experience to be a JA volunteer, just the enthusiasm to try.

Exactly what will I be doing?

You will be helping young students understand the world around them, from what it takes to be a good family member to a good citizen in the community. Using hands-on activities that are relevant to student interest and lifestyles, you will enrich the curriculum with your own experience. Everything you need to teach the class, from the activities to the tools you provide the students are provided for you. You will also receive support from the JA office.

Who volunteers for Junior Achievement?

Junior Achievement volunteers come from diverse age groups, backgrounds and occupations. Business professionals, retirees, parents, college and high school students take the time out of their busy schedules to teach kids how business works!

What makes a successful volunteer?

Volunteers bring diverse experiences and new perspectives into the classroom. The challenge lies in making the message age- appropriate. Like any personal or professional commitment reliability is critical. Above all as role models, Junior Achievement volunteers should exhibit a high level of integrity.

What are the desirable skills for volunteers?

• Desire to work with young children and young adults
• Flexibility
• Organization skills
• Effective presentation skills
• High level on energy
• Enthusiasm

Extend a Hand and be a Classroom Volunteer:

Volunteers are needed to present JA programs in schools in Greater

Reading and Lehigh Valley for fall 2007 and spring 2008.  For more information on becoming a classroom volunteer please contact:

Greater Reading - Contact Martha Turpin at 610-373-3500 or martha@jaberks.org 

Lehigh Valley - Contact Todd Stapleton at 484-245-0072 or todd@jaberks.org to volunteer.

What JA of Greater Reading and Lehigh Valley Volunteers are saying about teaching a Junior Achievement Program:

"I am 10 and I am a 5th grader at Daniel Boone School District.  I attended a Junior Achievement class at my school and I really enjoyed it.  The thing that I liked most about the class is how the teacher gave us encouragement about how we as kids could own our own business from scratch and not be afraid.  I also remember the teacher being very nice and making learning about profit and loss fun.  As a result, all the kids paid attention and listened."

Emmanuel

"Just wanted to say that this has been the MOST fun I've had being a volunteer - I truly look forward to my class each week!"

Claudia M. Stemler, JA Our Community, 

Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch

I am ABSOLUTELY loving the JA Class.  I must admit I was a bit nervous at first because I am so accustomed to dealing with professionals and 1st graders are unpredictable.  : )   I look forward to the class every week and I have already thought about how much I will miss the children when the JA class is over.  I have class with them every Friday at 12:30 and my next class is this week. You will definitely be able to count on me for future classes.

This is such a rewarding and fun experience!

                                Bridget Hindle, Sovereign Bank

“I volunteer for JA because I want the students to understand that business contributes to the overall success of a community and the success of a business is directly correlated to the success of its employees.  He also stresses that the volunteers always learn from their students.  “If students walk away with one thing, I want it to be that business isn’t bad.”  The business world and their ability to be profitable are important to any community.” 

James Buerger, Fleetwood Bank

“ I’m a JA volunteer because I firmly believe that our children need to understand why they are in school and that the knowledge and skills they learn will be needed to succeed in the adult world.  JA provides this connection through dedicated volunteers who can share their experiences and bring the classroom and business world together.” 

“I can see that JA volunteers truly are and will continue to change students’ lives.  I’m sure that I speak for the other JA volunteers in saying that the children give back to volunteers, as much, if not more, than we give to them.”

Kevin Ochs

After finishing my 3rd year instructing JA, I finally realized the positive impact the course leaves on the students.  This past Friday, I finished the Our Region class with Mrs. Sebastian's 4th grade class at the Governor Mifflin Intermediate School.

I like to make a big "to-do" with the certificates, as I like to sincerely make the students feel important.  I stand at the front of the class and announce their names one at a time to come to the front to receive their certificate.  I teach them the proper way to receive an award by shaking hands with their right hand, and receiving the award in their left hand.  We applaud throughout the entire procedure, and at the end I have everyone stand to applaud themselves as a group for completing the program.

This past Friday, something extremely special occurred.  Mrs. Sebastian had the class thank me, and then they all came running up to me at one time, crowded around me, some hugged me, and they all wanted me to autograph their books.  For that moment, it made me feel like a superstar, but I should have felt that way, as I just finished teaching a JA class, and realized just how special that really is!

Mark Shearer, Shearer Technical

 

Email the Junior Achievement Office NOW to get involved!
Jab@jaberks.org

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