Junior Achievement and Ayres Celebrate Longtime Partnership

The Northwest District of Junior Achievement of Wisconsin celebrated its 25th anniversary recently – and Ayres Associates was celebrating too.

Ayres staff members (including Marty Hanson pictured above with the second-graders he taught this spring at Arkansaw Elementary in Durand, Wisconsin) have been volunteering with the organization since the program’s beginnings, helping K-12 students learn about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness. Our staff members have volunteered in classrooms, provided job shadowing experiences, and served on the board of directors. (Jan Zander, executive vice president, is a current member of the board.)

Why this involvement? Dean Schultz, a retired Ayres executive vice president who was involved with JA from its early days (and served on its board), has this explanation:

“Ayres Associates has a long history of supporting education, especially those initiatives directed at preparation of students for the world of work and the development of those values consistent with good citizenship. JA programs target both of these objectives. All of society benefits from a well-educated workforce and citizenry; therefore, it’s incumbent upon us as a company, as a beneficiary of our society, to do what we can to promote such programs.”

Volunteering with JA is a win-win-win proposition: Students win by increasing their understanding of how communities and businesses work. Our staff members win by helping prepare students for the work world. And our communities and businesses win by having better-prepared, better-informed residents and employees who become future leaders.

On behalf of Ayres Associates, we want to thank all the students and teachers who have allowed our volunteers to be part of their day. And a big thank you to all our Ayres Associates volunteers who have made a positive difference in our world through JA! Several of our volunteers are pictured with the JA Outstanding Community Partner Award; from left, Marty Hanson, Stefanie Betley, Sue Leith, and Jan Zander.

Interested in learning more about JA and volunteer opportunities? Click here.