Folsom, Calif. –(Feb. 13, 2024) – Junior Achievement (JA) of Sacramento, dedicated to inspiring youth since 1961 to aim for future careers and financial success, recently received a $20,000 grant to help expand one of its newer programs in 2024.
SAFE Credit Union awarded the longstanding nonprofit with one of its annual community grants to support their emerging program, JA WORK$ Suite of Solutions.
The program, in its third year, teaches work readiness and personal finance management to high school students and emerging adults, many living in underserved communities. SAFE’s contribution is expected to help benefit more than 600 students throughout their 14-county reach.
“This generous support is a significant step to advance in our mission to inspire and prepare more young people to succeed in a global economy,” says Junior Achievement of Sacramento President Susan Nelson, adding the grant helps the nonprofit reach more students, including many at-risk youth.
According to a recent study by the Educational Credit Management Corporation Foundation Group, 45 percent of students in underserved populations believe education after high school is necessary, compared to 52 percent of all high-schoolers. The study also found that only 8 percent of those living in low-wage households, or have other socioeconomic disadvantages, have a plan for after high school.
JAWORK$ is specially designed to focus on connecting the dots between school and careers through financial literacy and work readiness, Nelson explains. Business volunteers and mentors lead real-life scenarios and share experiences while guiding students to understand crucial life and financial skills needed to achieve living-wage careers.
“With a better understanding of the working world, young people can more easily envision how they fit successfully into that world,” Nelson says.
Junior Achievement, whose programming focuses on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, serves communities throughout the Sacramento region, including some of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in Sacramento County and beyond.
Career Coach Sam Ziadeh meets with Junior Achievement students during the 2023 Sacramento Youth Summit.
Students attend a Junior Achievement presentation.
“Junior Achievement of Sacramento’s long dedication to students throughout the region especially stood out to our grant committee this year,” says SAFE Credit Union Vice President of Community Relations and Financial Education Rebecca Delmundo. “Their track-record and efforts are a testament to the power of inspiration. We are so glad to help them continue to show our area youth a world of possibilities.”
SAFE Credit Union Vice President Community Relations, Financial Education Rebecca Delmundo
To learn more about Junior Achievement of Sacramento, visit: www.jasac.org.
For more information about SAFE Credit Union’s grants program visit our funding page.
Students participate in a Junior Achievement workshop.
For more information email [email protected].
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About SAFE
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern California with $4.7 billion in assets and about 236,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person services for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. www.safecu.org