What if we told you there was a way you could inspire and prepare the next generation of your customers and employees?
Meet Junior Achievement.
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the NADA Women Directors connected with Junior Achievement USA (JA) in 2017 through engaging automobile dealers as JA volunteers to build financially literate customers and communities. Given JA’s focus on providing financial literacy programs to students in kindergarten to 12th grade, NADA embraced the relationship as a way to mobilize the dealer member network for a greater local impact.
What began as a small organic initiative has turned into a relationship that continues to build momentum, evident by the engagement in the 2017-18 school year, which included more than 375 NADA members who served as JA volunteers contributing over 2,250 volunteer hours that impacted 3,020 students in 122 classrooms and experiences across the USA.
“Through JA, I have had the opportunity to provide financially-focused curriculum to students in our local school district in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio,” said NADA Board Member Michelle Primm, of Cascade Auto Group. “Junior Achievement makes it easy with their “meeting in a box” materials, allowing for a rewarding volunteer experience that fits in with my busy schedule.”
Local Junior Achievement staff work closely with volunteers and educators to identify the ideal JA experience for volunteers. Local JA Area staff also provide hands-on volunteer training, JA program materials, and access to resources as well as ongoing support to JA volunteers throughout the duration of the experience. Volunteer experiences range from one hour to multi-hour and one day to multi-visit programs.
In addition to attracting support from NADA members, Junior Achievement USA has established strong relationships with original equipment manufacturers such as: Diamler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, American Honda Finance Corporation, and Toyota Motor Company, who all contribute countless volunteers, service hours, and support to JA.
The NADA Financial Literacy Program was officially launched in January 2017 during NADA’s 100th Annual Convention in New Orleans. Since then, Junior Achievement has been featured at NADA Legislative Conferences, NADA Shows in 2017 and 2018, as well as in numerous NADA communications.
Junior Achievement considers it an honor and a privilege to continue our relationship with NADA members across the USA. The opportunity to impact local communities and reach future customers by volunteering for JA is endless and your industry is well positioned to influence young people with JA’s hands-on and experiential learning programs and experiences focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.
To connect with your local JA Area office, contact Laura.Goodman@ja.org
