Volunteers are the life-blood of Junior Achievement.  During the 2006-2007 school year, 23,314 students in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Wise counties participated in JA programs in their school, which were delivered by 1,145 volunteers.  Volunteers not only present JA’s program and lead the students through the relevant and fun activities, but they also serve as positive role models and mentors for the students.  Studies show that positive adult figures are an important aspect of ensuring a student graduates from high school and leads a productive life.  JA’s volunteers serve as a source of constant encouragement that all students can succeed.

Independent evaluations from the Worldwide Institute for Research and Evaluation are highlighting the impact that JA and its volunteers make.  The surveys show that students’ confidence that they will graduate from high school increased with the number of JA programs they experienced.  In fact, 97 percent of students who participated in more than three programs were “very sure” they would graduate high school.

For the volunteers, the real impact of the program shows on the faces of their students each week when they walk into the classroom.  The smiles and eager faces tell you that you are something special to these students.  We may never truly know the full impact we have on a student.  But, when a second grader chases you down the hall to give you a big hug around the knees, then runs back into the classroom without saying a word – you know you have made a difference.

If you would like more information on how to volunteer for JA, contact Lisa Cox at lcox@jafortworth.org.

Randal Mays

President