Junior Achievement of Maine is non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve the quality of their lives. We accomplish this by using volunteers from the business community in K -12 classrooms around the state.

Through hands-on activities provided by JA, business volunteers help students understand the connection between what they are learning in school, the kind of jobs they might one day have, and the power of an education. Many of the activities focus on the role that individuals play in the economy, and demonstrate to students lessons of personal finance, such as balancing a check book and how to use credit wisely. In addition, other lessons focus more on workforce readiness - how to choose a career based on skills and interests, how to work together as a team, and how to communicate with others.

During the 2005-2006 school year, Junior Achievement in Maine served more than 9,500 students from Eliot to Houlton, with the help of local area councils, comprised of volunteers. Currently, we have councils in Sanford/Springvale, Northern York County , Androscoggin County , Lakes Region, Kennebec Valley , Greater Bangor, Bath/Brunswick and Houlton.

How can you help?

• Volunteer in the classroom using our professionally developed lesson plans and materials
• Participate on one of our councils or committees
• Donate funding for a class of JA or sponsor one of our events

FMI, please call our office at 591-9005, or visit our website at http://maine.ja.org/.