Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley has received a $20,000 grant and a $5,000 challenge grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation.

Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley announced today that The Burton D. Morgan Foundation a huge supporter of Junior Achievement programs in Northeast Ohio, has committed to matching dollars donated to Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley between now and May 1, 2011. Donations received will help Junior Achievement reach 9,000 local K-12 students with JA programs this year, taught in 4 counties Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula and Columbiana.

 

The mission of the Hudson-based Burton D. Morgan Foundation is to promote entrepreneurship and the free enterprise system. The Burton D. Morgan Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the free enterprise system, which Morgan considered America’s “number one advantage over the rest of the world.”

 

“This grant will allow us to reach youth here in the Mahoning Valley to help them develop entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed in our global economy,” says Michele Merkel, president Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley. “JA brings the concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation into the classroom and creates meaningful experiences that will give youth a head start on success. And with economic growth and job creation at the forefront of national debate, the need to cultivate an innovative, knowledge-based economy is ever more important.”

 

A new Junior Achievement survey found that more than half of teen respondents (51 percent) would like to own their own business someday. However, in the face of a prolonged economic recovery, many teens fear the risk of starting a business venture. Of those polled, 74 percent identified risk (39 percent) and failure (35 percent) as the biggest discouragements from starting their own business, compared to 56 percent who cited lack of money to fund their ideas. The Junior Achievement 2010 Teens and Entrepreneurship Survey was sponsored by Sam’s Club.

 

“With so many teens fearing the risk and possible failure associated with starting a business, the time is now to teach them those essential skills to overcome that fear, so our young people can be successful in the 21st-century global marketplace,” said Merkel. “Junior Achievement instills confidence and teaches students to overcome fears and own their economic success by bringing relevancy to classroom education.”

Contributions can be made online at http://warren-youngstown.ja.org or call the JA office at 330-539-5268.

IN BATTLE OF THE TECH TITANS, STEVE JOBS MOST ADMIRED ENTREPRENEUR FOR TEENS, LEAVING FACEBOOK’S MARK ZUCKERBERG IN THE DUST

Junior Achievement Survey Shows Few Teens Esteem Facebook Founder Despite Widespread Use of Social Media

Colorado Springs, Colo. — When asked which entrepreneur teens admire most, Steve Jobs reigns supreme in the 2010 Junior Achievement Teens and Entrepreneurship survey sponsored by Sam’s Club. Nearly a quarter of respondents (23 percent) named Apple founder Steve Jobs as the most admired entrepreneur, down from 35 percent in the 2009 survey. Even with Facebook at more than half a billion users, and the recently released movie about its origins, The Social Network, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg only received nine percent of votes for most admired entrepreneur. Who beat him out? Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling at 17 percent, Oprah Winfrey at 14 percent and music mogul Jay-Z at 13 percent. Zuckerberg tied with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

So what qualities do these teens admire most in these entrepreneurs? Riches and fame? Those responses earned a mere 10 percent of teens’ votes. Top for teens is making a difference and being successful in multiple fields. Thirty-one percent of teens admire entrepreneurs who make a difference in people’s lives and 31 percent cited success in multiple fields as what makes an entrepreneur stand out.

While most teens admire entrepreneurs who make a difference, when asked what their incentive for becoming an entrepreneur would be, doing good was only the third-ranked response at 15 percent. Above it was working for yourself at 27 percent and controlling your destiny at 24 percent.

“Junior Achievement aims to teach students not just the basic tenets of entrepreneurship, but we help them own their own future success through connecting them with influential mentors and imparting to them those skills that will make them not only financially successful, but also meaningful contributors to today’s society and global marketplace,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and CEO of Junior Achievement USA.

Learning about entrepreneurship is an important lesson for all teens, but how do thoughts on entrepreneurship break down between the sexes? For starters, the top entrepreneur chosen by female respondents was J.K. Rowling at 23 percent. Oprah followed close behind with 21 percent, with Steve Jobs in third at 17 percent for most admired celebrity among girls. For boys, Steve Jobs topped the list at 29 percent, followed by Jay-Z at 17 percent and Tony Hawk at 14 percent.

Also, girls were more concerned with making a difference in others’ lives, with 36 percent choosing that as their most admired quality, versus 26 percent of males. Boys chose being successful in multiple fields as their most admired quality at 33 percent. Also, when asked why they’d want to become an entrepreneur, 21 percent of girls wanted to raise money for good causes, versus only nine percent of boys.

What’s the deciding factor for teens becoming entrepreneurs in the future? Key responses point to their environment and having strong role models. Organizations such as Junior Achievement not only provide those role models, but it gives students a chance for hands-on exposure to entrepreneurial activities.

“Supporting the growth of young men and women into successful entrepreneurship is something we greatly value,” said Sharon Orlopp, senior vice president, Sam’s Club People Group. “They will be tomorrow’s business owners, and by providing them with essential tools for success today through Junior Achievement, we’re helping them to achieve future success.”

Many of these role models take the responsibility one step further by volunteering for JA Company Program®, which gives students real-life experiences by organizing and operating an actual business enterprise with their own products. Find out more about this engaging opportunity for students and adults here. For more information on Junior Achievement and to learn how to get involved, visit www.ja.org.

Read the report.

About JA Worldwide^® (Junior Achievement)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 126 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional 5.7 million students served by operations in 122 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (NYSE:WMT). The first Sam’s Club opened its doors in Midwest City, Okla., in 1983. Today, Sam’s Club serves more than 47 million U.S. Members with locations nationwide, as well in Brazil, China and Mexico. Sam’s Club saves its members on average 30.4 percent over grocery and specialty retailers by offering superior values on quality merchandise and services for home or work. Saving is made simple at Sam’s Club. Visit samsclub.com for more information.

Join the Conversation Online
Sam’s Club now offers unique ways for members to engage with one another and receive information. Twitter and Facebook users can get the latest news and hot items of the day by following or becoming a fan of Sam’s Club. To find Sam’s Club on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/samsclub. Tweeters can follow @samsclub and @samsclubdeals to stay up-to-date.

“Vote for JA” and we can win $8,000!

Giving Made Simple Sam’s Club is donating $4 million:

What would you do with $4 million dollars? What if you could help determine where this money was to go? Sam’s Club has a new promotion out called Sam’s Club Giving. How It Works. Each participating organization will receive a portion of the $4 million donation based on Member votes. The top vote-getter in each category will receive $1 million each, the second-place winners will receive $500,000 each, and the third- and fourth-place winners will receive $250,000 each Now, the question is, what would you do with $4 Million? If  you’re a Sam’s Club Member, we believe you play an important role in our organization and should have a say in how we support the community. By voting on your preferred youth education or entrepreneurship organizations, you’ll help determine the portion of the $4 million donation that each will receive. As a Sam’s Club Member, it is easy to vote. Simply go to http://samsclub.com/giving and vote for the organization that you thought would benefit from your vote.

We are excited because Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley has a chance to win $8,000 towards local programming for the 2010-2011 school year. Everyday we see first hand the impact of our programs. Every child deserves a role model!  Junior Achievement’s programs focus on today’s youth that are tomorrow’s leaders! You can vote for Junior Achievement at http://www2.samsclub.com/Giving/About/Junior

Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley brought a Harlem Globetrotters’ Goodwill Ambassador to Visit Taft Elementary School

Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley brought a Harlem Globetrotters’ Goodwill Ambassador to Visit Taft Elementary School

Wun “the shot” Versher, a  Harlem Globetrotters’ Goodwill Ambassador visited Taft Elementary School on Friday, January 22, 2010.   Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley has provided JA programs to the school through Guidance Counselor Patty Scalzo for many years.

The visit, a prelude to a performance by the Globetrotters on January 30^{th t} at the Covelli Centre, is part of the C.H.E.E.R. For Character Program.  For many years, the Harlem Globetrotters have brought ‘C.H.E.E.R.’ to thousands of elementary school students across the United States.  While there are several different character traits emphasized by various programs across the country, the Globetrotters’ program focuses on Cooperation, Healthy Mind & Body, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Responsibility, using the acronym ‘C.H.E.E.R.’ The program involves Globetrotter players incorporating their signature ball handling skills with a ‘C.H.E.E.R.’ basketball. The basketball includes each of the character traits printed on the outside of the ball and is used as a key tool during the presentation to each school. Globetrotter players encourage students to match their actions with those six character words in all their life experiences with parents, teachers and one another.

In addition to bringing the Harlem Globetrotters’ Goodwill Ambassador to Taft, Junior Achievement donated eight tickets to be given away. Teachers from the school submitted the names of students who represent C.H.E.E.R. Two students won tickets the tickets to the upcoming performance at the Covelli Centre.