JA is about changing lives and inspiring youth to succeed.

Aracelis, who was introduced to JA as a freshman in high school through her Career Development class. She soon became a JA High School Hero, teaching JA programs to elementary school children. Over the course of the next three years, Aracelis taught more than 20 JA programs, participated in the Stock Investing Competition, JA Job Shadow, interned at JA and became a JA Student Ambassador. She started excelling in school and taking AP classes. Today she is the first person in her family to go to college and still finds time between school and work to volunteer for JA. "JA changed my life"

I know from experience as a Junior Achiever in high school, a JA volunteer, the parent of JA students, and president of JA in Western Massachusetts the difference JA can make in a person's life. I am passionate about being able to bring the JA experience to every child in Western MA. JA is making a difference and you can help. Helping young people like Aracelis understand about budgeting, exploring careers, and staying in school is what inspires me to get up everyday and promote JA.

Our volunteer-delivered, K-12 programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire young people to dream big and reach their potential.

Junior Achievement impacts over 9,000 students in 79 schools across Western Massachusetts and Vermont. With the help of 400 volunteers, donating 69,500 hours JA students develop the skills they need to experience the realities and opportunities of work and entrepreneurship in the 21st-century global marketplace.