Too often (especially in this economy) fundraisers and Development officers don’t have the opportunity to engage in their organizations programs and essentially their mission. I have been fortunate these past two weeks as I’ve had the opportunity to both volunteer with JA at Capital One/ Junior Achievement Finance Park and attend the 3/31 NJ Business Hall of Fame (NJBHOF) Meet and Greet, both extraordinary programs that reinforced my belief in what I do.
Although not an easy task to put aside my “work” during my busiest season, I’m certain that revisiting my organizations mission gave me the boost that I needed. Having just completed two new and large projects (JANJ’s Annual Report and the 1st Annual Latino Professional JA Community Initiative), I am significantly far behind in securing items for the NJ Business Hall of Fame (NJBHOF) auction that is just two weeks away.
At the NJBHOF Meet and Greet today, I had the absolute pleasure of attending Franklin High School where JA High School Heroes received real-world advice from the 2011 NJBHOF Laureates. Student’s received a crash course in overcoming challenges, skills to success, the importance of education, and how confidence plays a role professionally, educationally and personally. Albeit an outstanding group of students that donate their time to better their communities, today’s event will no doubt help shape their futures.
Last week I took on the role of a JA volunteer at Capital One/ Junior Achievement Finance Park and walked students through a day in the life as an adult (and literally we walked through this virtual city as students chose their cars, homes, clothes, etc. based on their real life scenario and personal budget).
I have a renewed sense of energy seeing first hand how Junior Achievement’s programs are engaging youth in programs that will help shape their futures (and ours, as they are tomorrow’s leaders). At a time when so many schools have faced budget cuts, JA is being called upon to help satisfy the newly implemented 9.2 standard requiring students receive 2.5 credits of financial literacy prior to graduating. Our programs are free to the schools and our programs are in high demand.
My job is to develop relationships and raise funds so that we can provide more youth with JA’s financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs. But it goes way beyond that. So, for the next two weeks I will bust my butt to put together another jaw-dropping online and silent auction because I know that the funds raised will give students a head start on figuring out the stuff that really matters!
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