LAS VEGAS ̶ Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada announced today that it received a monetary gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. It is part of a total of $38.8 million donated to Junior Achievement USA and 26 JA operations of the national financial literacy nonprofit organization’s more than 100 chapters in communities across the country. Scott’s donation is the largest gift from a single donor in Junior Achievement’s 103-year history.
“We are overwhelmed by MacKenzie Scott’s incredible generosity and amazing gift that will help our efforts in providing the invaluable financial education curriculum we deliver to local students,” said Michelle Jackson, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada. “MacKenzie’s investment recognizes the great work taking place in our community because of the passion and commitment of business leaders, educators, volunteers, and other partners who support our work, in addition to the dedication of our nine-member staff. This donation will allow us to make even better use of other community investments to positively impact the lives of the thousands of young people we serve.”
During the past several months, Scott has been making substantial donations to youth development organizations. She noted in a recent blog, “Communities with a habit of removing obstacles for different subsets of people tend to get better for everyone.”
Jackson added, “This sentiment echos Junior Achievement’s vision of a world where young people have the skills and mindset to build thriving communities, and we are committed to making this a reality. Through our programs and incredible network of teachers and volunteers, we bring entrepreneurship to life, demystify financial concepts, such as budgeting and taxes, and make planning for future careers exciting for young people.”
Research shows Junior Achievement programs work. Students going through JA programs gain a greater understanding of financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Lessons are age-appropriate for K-12 students, and programs correlate with state education standards and Common Core. Junior Achievement is a trusted partner with education and creates a strong bond where business and education can work together to empower young people to own their economic success.
About Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, Inc. is dedicated to providing financial education to K-12 students with age-appropriate virtual and live curriculum that spans from budget management to economic principals, workforce skills and credit. Founded locally in 1996, the local nonprofit organization has reached more than 450,000 students in the Las Vegas area with the help of 285 businesses and 6,800 business role models. For more information, visit https://southernnevada.ja.org/ and follow on Instagram and Facebook.
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 4.5 million students per year in 115 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.8 million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. Visit https://jausa.ja.org for more information.
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