As we finish out the school year, we wanted to pause to reflect on the work everyone involved in Junior Achievement gets to be a part of. Our Program Managers work with schools, teachers, volunteers, and students every day – putting together all of the moving parts that make our learning experiences happen. And they also get to see first-hand what a different a JA experience can make!

So we asked them each to share one impactful moment from this year – and of course because they’re wonderful people, they all gave us two! Enjoy…

Sheena Gosse
Program Manager
Waterloo Region, Wellington, Hamilton, Niagara

The first thing that comes to mind is when I had the opportunity to pilot our More than Money half day program. Going into those grade 4 classes and seeing the enthusiasm, the excitement, and the stories of all the little entrepreneurs out there and the different business they have started was one of most impactful memories this school year.

I also really enjoyed having the chance to deliver the Success Skills program this year. The students loved learning that they already possessed so many success skills, and really focused on what skills they were good at especially when we did the group paper tower building activity. So many natural leaders, I saw lots of good communication and team work throughout the activity. Watching the students work together to accomplish one common goal was always exciting to see. I really look forward to getting into the classroom again next year.

Mandy Deelstra
Volunteer Manager

I really enjoyed getting into the classrooms this past year and having the chance to deliver Dollar With Sense, Economics for Success and Success Skills. Even though some of the material seemed a bit daunting upon initial discussion, by the end of the day the students were begging for more quizzing on global currency, creating different budgets for events, asking for more challenges to work as a team, and of course play MORE Bingo.

I’ve met so many interesting people and prospective volunteers over the course of the last year. I feel excited and invigorated knowing that we will have such a great roster of mentors for the upcoming year and really look forward to all the new faces and amazing backstories of new volunteers to come.

Zoe Burness
Program Manager
Company Program and Camps

In Company Program, there was one student who was unsure if the program was for her, and asked at the beginning of the year about what kind of commitment the program required. By the end of the program, she was the team’s Vice President of Human Resources, won two in-company awards, and had 100% attendance!

When asked if the company’s shareholders would be happy with the end result of their company, one president responded with something like “if the shareholders were invested in the experience and learning of the students, they would be thrilled”.

Morissa Ewing
Program Manager
Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton, Huron-Perth

I received an email from a teacher about a student who volunteered to deliver our financial literacy program at a youth resource organization. Despite his heavy school workload, he was well-prepared and delivered an exceptional full-day program. The participant feedback was amazing; one student said it was “the most important stuff I have learned”

At our World of Choices event in Sarnia, I had a teacher come up to me talking about what a great experience students were having. He mentioned one student who had known roughly what she wanted to do but hadn’t known a specific career in that field even existed until she came to the event. Now she thinks that’s what she wants to pursue!

Claudia Villatoro
Program Manager
Thames Valley (Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin), Brant Haldimand Norfolk, Bruce-Grey

I was delivering a program at a school and a student came up to me saying he was so excited that he was finally participating in the JA program since his sister had participated in the program the previous year. He said he was telling everyone about the program because he couldn’t wait to do all the activities that she did and he thought it was one of the coolest activities that he could do in school.

I had a student make a comment that she couldn’t believe how expensive it is to move out and live on your own after doing the budgeting activity in the Economics for Success program. She said she was going to use our goal and budgeting exercises to come up with a plan when she gets her first job in high school to save her money so she can afford to have everything she wants.

Thank you Program Managers! It’s thousands of these tiny moments that are changing lives all across South Western Ontario.

A message from Hilary Leitch, a partner in Business Law, and Wills and Estates at Lerners LLP:

When I think about legacy giving, estate planning in general is what comes to mind. Through my work as a Wills & Estates lawyer, I have come to believe strongly in the fact that estate planning is for everyone – regardless of financial means or family circumstances, everyone 18 years of age or older should consider their estate plan. Often, this includes a Will, Power of Attorney for Property and Power of Attorney for Personal Care, but it may also include more specific planning measures such as trusts. Regardless, if estate planning documents are kept in good order, it is a gift (or guide) to your family and friends should anything happen to you. While preparing documents at an early point in your life might appear straightforward, there is still lots to consider and to put into perspective. As life evolves and family dynamics change, you will need to be proactive in updating your documents in order to ensure a solid estate plan whatever the circumstances.

Beyond appointing an executor to manage your estate, or naming family and friends as beneficiaries to receive your estate, in doing estate planning, you also have the opportunity to consider what kind of legacy you want to leave. Often, in reflecting on one’s legacy, charitable giving to organizations or to causes is top of mind. Through charitable giving, you can name a charity or charities to receive a portion of your estate, or to receive a cash gift from your estate. For some, including a charitable gift is an important way to continue charitable giving that they were involved in throughout their life. For others, it may be their first charitable donation – or perhaps a donation of an amount that is significantly more than what was given during their lifetime. In my experience, people are interested in charitable giving as a way to make a direct impact on an organization, a cause, or a particular community. Many have had a history with charitable giving through monetary and non-monetary means, but some may have very little experience with the organization prior to leaving a gift in their Will.

There are so many opportunities surrounding estate planning and legacy giving so it is important that people are intentional about what they want to accomplish with their estate plan. By including a legacy gift, one’s estate plan has the potential to make an incredibly significant impact. For young people considering their estate plan or legacy giving in particular, I would encourage them to find ways to volunteer their time and talent to organizations that they have an interest in, or to organizations devoted to causes they are passionate about. From there, it is likely you will find yourself wanting to make a financial contribution that is meaningful to you – and legacy giving may be the next step as your interest and familiarity with an organization grows. By having the continuum of charitable giving extend beyond your lifetime, you are able to pass on the commitment of charitable giving and, along the way, create meaningful relationships with those whom you are working alongside and with those whom you are entrusting your charitable giving to.

If legacy giving resonates with you, I encourage you to reach out to a legal professional to get started.

About the Author

Hilary Leitch is a partner in Business Law, and Wills and Estates  at Lerners LLP. Read more about Hilary.

April is a special time across the country and especially at JA as we highlight a network of unsung heroes—JA volunteers. These remarkable individuals dedicate their time, skills, and empathy to empower our youth. They are the “secret sauce” of JA, making our learning experiences come to life.

Let me take a moment to elaborate on the “secret sauce” analogy…

The Special Sauce of JA Volunteers

The Ingredients

Much like McDonald’s iconic Big Mac special sauce, JA volunteers blend a unique mix of qualities:

• Time: Just as the secret sauce is meticulously crafted, our volunteers invest their precious time. They show up for every learning experience prepared to ignite curiosity and inspire dreams.
• Skills: Like the perfect balance of tanginess and creaminess, our volunteers bring expertise. Whether teaching financial literacy or fostering entrepreneurial spirit, they enrich young minds.
• Empathy: The special sauce wouldn’t be complete without a dash of empathy. Our volunteers listen, encourage, and uplift. They understand that every moment matters in a student’s journey.

The Impact

Remember that first bite of a Big Mac? Maybe you marveled at the flavour the secret sauce had. Similarly, JA volunteers have a profound impact in classrooms. Here’s what a few teachers had to say about JA volunteers who facilitated the Dollars With Sense and Economics for Success programs this year:

“I have used this program {Economics for Success} for a few years now. I personally really like volunteers coming into the classroom because the information, I feel, is more meaningful to the students coming from someone with expertise in a particular area. The program is always well-organized.”

“Having a JA Volunteer come into the classroom is an invaluable experience for the students. They bring a wealth of knowledge that is experience-based which helps the students understand how the information presented is used outside of the school environment.”

“I’ve always enjoyed the Dollars with Sense program. Great to have the volunteers back in the building!

So, here’s to you, JA volunteers! You’re the secret sauce—the magic ingredient that makes our learning experiences extraordinary. Thank you for all you do!