JA volunteer learns something too

By Chip Chaon, Bettendorf | Tuesday, May 13, 2008

I had the opportunity to volunteer with Junior Achievement (JA) for the first time this spring. I taught five one-hour lessons in Mrs. Hoffman’s fifth-grade class at Pleasant View Elementary. The course emphasized how businesses operate in the United States. Mrs. Hoffman and the students were fantastic.

Through this experience I gained a new appreciation for the importance JA plays in the lives of young people. JA helps students realize the importance of entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literary.

I witnessed the success of this program firsthand and am already looking forward to volunteering again. If you’re not familiar with JA’s work please take a closer look at their programs and consider volunteering.

Our local JA office reaches out to over 60,000 kids annually in a 25 county territory. It takes a lot of volunteers to reach out to 60,000 kids. Please consider getting involved. It is a very rewarding experience.

Chip Chaon

Bettendorf