(Bridgeport, CT) – Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County received a $7,500 grant from the Rotary Club of Bridgeport to support its programs that deliver financial literacy, career preparedness and entrepreneurship lessons to students at Geraldine Johnson School in Bridgeport, CT during the 2018-19 school year.
In partnership with buildOn, a youth service learning organization, Junior Achievement recruited and trained Central High School students to participate in JA’s High School Heroes program, which delivers JA programs to young students at Geraldine Johnson School. The high school students are empowered to give back to the community as role models while building leadership and public speaking skills, as well as work collaboratively to teach programs. “It was a good experience that helps develop skills. It helps to develop an idea of a career I might want to pursue and it exposes us to a new environment,” said Leslye, a participating Central High School student.
“The JA High School Heroes Program is so important in a community like Bridgeport, and we are so grateful for the Rotary Club of Bridgeport’s support in this effort,” said Bernadine Venditto, President, Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County. “It creates an opportunity where older students gain leadership skills and younger students can gain mentors who have quite literally already walked in these young students’ shoes. This enables elementary students to see that they, too, can go to high school and work toward graduation and achieving their dreams, while the high school students feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment by giving back to their communities.”