Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York announced the appointment of six new members to their Board of Directors with PC Public Affairs Managing Partner, Andre Claridge, being one of them.
“Volunteering for Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York provides me the opportunity to teach young people in the Capital District that they have the ability control their destiny with the liberating power of entrepreneurship and hard-work, said Claridge. “As a poor kid who grew up in a fourteen by seventy-two-foot trailer in the middle of nowhere, there is nothing more rewarding than using my life experiences to help light the spark of entrepreneurship in the mind of a disadvantaged child.”
Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York, Inc. (JA) is one of 118 licensed areas of Junior Achievement USA with the mission to give 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 is the largest organization in the region dedicated to educating students about issues relating to work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy with experiential, hands-on programs. In partnership with the business and education communities, and through the support of community volunteers, JA brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.
JA pursues its mission through the delivery of sequential programming for youth from kindergarten to twelfth grad. JA programs begin at the elementary school level with age-appropriate curricula that teaches children how they can impact the world around them as individuals, workers, and consumers. JA programs continue through the middle and high school grades, introducing students to various economic, business and workforce situations.
(photo top L to R) Matthew Tedeschi, Agency Partner of Jaeger Flynn Associates; Brendan Casey, President of Upside Collective; Peter Lauricella, ESQ., Partner at Wilson Esler. (bottom L to R) Andre Claridge, Founder of PC Public Affairs; Sarah Halliday, Executive VP of Commercial Banking at NBT Bank; Derek Martin, President of Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York.
Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York by the numbers:
(42) community leaders make up the Junior Achievement board
(5) professional Staff
(24,893) students participated during the 2015-2016 school year
(172) schools have Junior Achievement programs in the (13) counties
(1,176) classes taught during the 2015-2016
(500+) businesses, foundations, individuals and service clubs invest in Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York each year
($28.00) per student is the average cost to provide Junior Achievement education
(3,000+) individuals volunteer each year
Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York services schools in the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, Washington, Dutchess and Ulster.