Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington is making a real difference in our community, and I’m proud to support its mission.

Just last Friday, I taught five classes to third graders at Peninsula Elementary School, and this Friday I’ll be volunteering again at JA BizTown. If you’re not familiar with Junior Achievement, JA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people build financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and workforce readiness — a mission that feels especially important today.

For more than 100 years, JA has helped students prepare for successful futures. What began as an effort to teach young people about business has grown into a global organization serving more than 10 million students in over 100 countries. Through volunteer-led programs, JA equips K–12 students with practical skills in three critical areas: financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness.

Here in our region, JA of Oregon & SW Washington has been serving students since 1950. For more than 70 years, it has partnered with local schools and business volunteers to help students better understand how the world of work and business operates — and how they can succeed in it. Today, its impact reaches students across Oregon and Southwest Washington, as far north as Longview and Kelso.

My own connection to JA goes back to 1993, when I first began volunteering in the classroom. Since 2000, I’ve also had the privilege of serving on the JA Board of Directors. This organization means a great deal to me, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact it has on students.

Please join me in supporting JA.  Thank you for helping me reach my goal and for supporting Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington.