FY24 Junior Achievement of Greater Boston Impact Report
It is our pleasure to share Junior Achievement of Greater Boston’s Impact Report, which highlights our work during fiscal year 2024 (from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024). We remain focused on our strategic vision to close the wealth and opportunity gaps for youth in key impact communities in our region (currently Boston, Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Quincy, and Somerville) by creating middle school to career pathways, igniting youth entrepreneurship, and preparing financially savvy youth.
Over this past year, we served 7,943 students and increased the average instructional contact hours from 12 to 21 (+75% growth year over year). This means last academic year JA of Greater Boston ranked fifth among the 99 JA chapters nationally in the average number of instructional contact hours spent with each student. This is proof of our shift from reach to impact, serving the young people and communities who are most empowered by our programs.
Ninety-eight percent of students live in our impact communities. Of students served, 64% were in high school; 21% in middle school; 14% kindergarten through fifth grade, and 1% are alumni. We continued to activate the JA Innovation Center @ RSM and, in September 2024, opened a second JA Innovation Center at Lawrence High School.
We grew the number of students participating in JA Inspire to 1,206 (+60% YOY). This impactful middle school career exploration program is the starting point to our middle school to career pathway strategy by exposing the region’s middle school students to a wide range of diverse industries they may consider for future careers at a critical age when they are thinking about what they want to be when they grow up.
We continued to grow the JA Career Pathway for Alumni, the “finish line,” in the middle school-to-career strategy. This past summer, 36 high school seniors participated in JA Career Launch and 34 alumni were placed in paid internships and one was placed into a full-time job. These bright young people are eager to learn through internships and our partners have welcomed them with open arms as their pipeline for future talent.
Our first year of 3DE Schools at Boston Public School’s Jeremiah E. Burke High School (now Dr. Albert D. Holland High School of Technology) was a success. It provided baseline data and insights into school culture, engagement, academic achievement, and college and career readiness. This comprehensive instructional model connects high school students to the real world through case studies. It prepares them for success in any career pathway they choose and volunteerism plays a key role in this initiative. 3DE exposes students to positive role models from the business community who inspire what they can achieve in the future.
We continue to focus on ensuring our organization is representative of the communities we serve. As we write this letter, 50% of our staff and 29% of our board are people of color or identify as multiracial. In tandem, we prioritize recruiting diverse volunteers and hiring vendors of color.
As we approach Junior Achievement of Greater Boston’s 75th anniversary in 2025, more than ever we appreciate your partnership in our critical mission; we look forward to celebrating our history of impact with you and to setting our organization up for the next 75 years of impact in our region. Thank you.
Radhamés Nova President & CEO
George Moore Chair, Board of Directors Chief Technology and Information Officer, CareMetx
Introduction: A Vision for the Future
At Junior Achievement of Greater Boston (JA), we believe that every young person, regardless of their background, deserves a fair chance to realize their aspirations. Our Middle School to Career Strategy is designed to support low-income youth who face systemic barriers, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and experiences necessary to secure meaningful employment, pursue advanced education, and successfully transition into adulthood.
Massachusetts is a state marked by significant income inequality, with disparities that are particularly evident in communities like Lawrence, where 85.1% of students are from low-income households. Recognizing these challenges, JA is dedicated to being a part of the solution. Our strategy begins earlier than most, engaging students in middle school and continuing to support them through high school and into their first professional work experiences. By providing free access to expert curriculum in financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and career readiness, JA is committed to preparing students for a brighter future.
The heart of JA’s work lies in the students and alumni we serve. Our success is measured by their success. We focus on students from seven impact communities, representing the diverse demographics of their districts. Eighty-nine percent of students in impact community school districts are young people of color: 72% Hispanic; 8% Black; 11% White; 7% Asian; 2% multi-race non-Hispanic. The top communities served are Lawrence (3,954 students), Boston (1,473 students), Lowell (832 students), and Chelsea (500 students). The percentage of young people served who are low-income is 77%. The average poverty rate of the impact communities served is 19.7% vs. state average of 10.4. JA’s inclusive and accessible curriculum ensures that every student, regardless of their background, receives the support they need to thrive.
7,943 students impacted by JA curriculum
86% of students served were in the middle school to career pathway (21% Middle School, 64% High School, and 1% post High School
98% of students served were from impact communities
12 to 21
75% YOY increase in average instructional contact hours per student
372 Learning Experiences delivered
Building the Pathway: Key Programs
Our Middle School to Career Strategy is a comprehensive pathway that begins in middle school and each designed to build on the previous one, creating a seamless transition from education to career.
JA Inspire: Sparking Curiosity in Middle Grade
The journey begins with JA Inspire, a program that ignites the curiosity of middle school students through career exploration. Held annually at the Hynes Convention Center, JA Inspire combines in-school curriculum with a hands-on career exploration event. The event’s success is 80% of participating students gained newfound awareness of various career options and a 10% boost in student confidence regarding career planning.
Programs and Achievements
and extends through high school and beyond. This journey is marked by several key programs, career.
1,206 eighth grade students
20 schools
46 exhibitors
“Each question the students asked sparks a conversation that reminds me of why I started down the career path I did. It’s so fun to ignite their imaginations.”
- Company Volunteer
“My students are able to connect their learning in class to jobs outside the classroom.”
- Eight Grade Teacher
High School Programs: Building
As students transition into high school, JA continues to support their growth with a variety of in-school educate but also empower students to take control of their financial futures and explore entrepreneurial
JA Stock Market Challenge and JA Take Stock in Your Future
Through classroom-based lessons, students develop critical thinking skills and broader understanding of financial literacy. The JA Take Stock in Your Future and the JA Stock Market Challenge offer students an opportunity to discover the benefits and challenges of investing in the stock market. Last year 1,308 students across 6 impact communities participated, an 8% increase from 1,211 students the prior year. The top teams competed in a simulation of investing in the stock market at the JA Innovation Center, the JA Stock Market Challenge. Out of 122 students (+15% YOY), the winning teams were from Lawrence High School, Boston College High School, and Somerville High School.
Most students, 83%, reported that they felt the program would have a positive impact on their future. On average, students’ interest and understanding of the stock market increased by 9.3% after the completion of the program.
“We really enjoyed participating in the Stock Market Challenge competition. It was really well put together and my students loved it! We are looking forward to participating next year.”
- High School Teacher
“I enjoyed the competition and the teamwork; everyone was helping.”
- Student participant in JA Stock Market Challenge
Building Skills and Confidence
in-school and out-of-school programs. These programs not only entrepreneurial ventures.
CGI IT Girl Challenge
The CGI IT Girl Challenge is a 12-week afterschool program for teams of female identifying students to build and design a mobile app under the guidance of CGI mentors. Each team pitches its app via a video and answers live questions from a panel of female IT leaders. Winners are selected based on the most innovative, applicable, and creative mobile app design. The winning team receives a $20,000 college scholarship to split among team members.
The 2024 CGI IT Girl Challenge culminating competition and celebration was hosted at RSM March 15th, 2024. We had five excellent student teams from Burlington High School, Jeremiah Burke High School (Boston), Lowell High School, North Quincy High School, and Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy. North Quincy High School team won 1st place and Burlington High School took 2nd place.
“Our mentor encouraged our independence as a company team and trusted us to learn and problem solve ourselves. While he would give us pointers, he ultimately let us figure it out on our own, which was unbelievably rewarding.”
- JA Company Program Student
JA Company Program
JA Company Program is our flagship entrepreneurial program where high school students create, operate, and liquidate their own business. This year we had 84 students participate across eight teams that each worked to create a product to address an unmet need in their community. Our dedicated mentors from businesses in and around Boston met with teams weekly to provide them with invaluable real-world guidance and business expertise. Over the 21-week program, students participated in our events such as the design thinking workshop, seed funding competition, and the annual JA of Greater Boston regional pitch competition.
Congratulations to Nature’s Knitwear, a fashion company dedicated to wildlife preservation and education, for winning 1st place and the title of JA Company of the Year. Nature’s Knitwear was also selected to attend the JA National Student Leadership Summit and compete as one of 15 teams from across the USA. The team pitched their product to state senators and business professionals on Capitol Hill at the entrepreneurship expo, presented to a room of over 100 people, and participated in leadership and entrepreneurship workshops led by JA sponsors like FedEx and Johnson & Johnson.
At the beginning of our fiscal year, in August 2023, we hosted the 10th JA Summer Institute, which returned to MIT for the first time since 2019. This was the most diverse group of students in this program’s history with 92% of students from our impact communities. Each of the 40 high school students left with an increased understanding of how to network, the skills required in various career fields, and an understanding of the financial decisions they’ll need to make in the future.
This program is made possible by our sponsors: Accenture, Northern Bank, State Street, Needham Bank, EY, Avanade, Eastern Bank, Baystate Financial, and Fidelity Investments.
An additional thank you to all our partners who volunteered time at speed networking, one of the signature events of the program including: The Hollister Group, McKinsey & Company, Avanade, DuPont, Wellington Management, PEACHBOX CO., Grammarly, Citisoft, AECOM, Needham Bank, State Street, CNA Insurance, Sun Life, Chase, CieloCX, Staples, EY, Accenture, KPMG, and Sanofi.
JA Summer Institute
3DE Schools by Junior Achievement: A New Model for High School
3DE Schools by Junior Achievement is JA’s newest and boldest initiative, launched at the Albert D. (formerly Jeremiah E. Burke High School) in Fall 2023. This innovative instructional model integrates curriculum, creating a bridge between academic learning and real-world work experiences.
“I see the vision. Students showed growth and maturity more this year. They were able to present more effectively and could talk to adults. They care about 3DE.”
– Ninth Grade Holland Tech Teacher
Achievement: School Education
D. Holland High School of Technology
integrates case-study methodology into the
The model is designed to grow with the students, adding each grade level year-by-year until the methodology is integrated into all 9-12th grade courses and students’ school-wide are participating. All 62 students in the 9th grade class participated, 95% of whom are students of color, with over 300 instructional contact hours per student. This cohort will be the first 3DE graduating class in 2027.
Across 12 separate touchpoints, over 40 volunteers from 8 companies engaged with students throughout the year. Partners included Deloitte, Enterprise Mobility, Brainly, Delta Air Lines, Northern Bank, Staples, and KPMG. Students received coaching from industry experts in how to solve real world business problems while developing competency in key areas such as self-direction.
The five case challenges conclude with culminating events, including a unique off-site culminating event hosted by Delta Air Lines. Students provided solutions to improve the gate area through their case challenge, toured an airplane, and top teams presented their solutions to leaders from Delta Air Lines over the gate speaker system.
The integration of the model into school culture and the enthusiasm from students and school leadership highlight the effective approach to educational innovation. JA will continue to deliver 3DE this academic year, expanding to all 9th and 10th grade students.
JA Career Pathway for Alumni: The Culmination of Our Strategy
The final stage of JA’s Middle School to Career Strategy is the JA Career Pathway for Alumni. This program prepares high school graduates for their first professional work experience, providing internships and job placements with corporate and community partners.
Alumni: Strategy
“I loved the small cohort learning so that I got to build deep relationships with my peers, but also liked the times we had as a larger group so I could build my network with likeminded JA students. I hope I can repay JA at some point for this incredible experience!”
- Adrian
After completing a successful pilot of JA Career Launch in 2023, we ran two separate JA Career Launch programs in 2024, serving 36 high school seniors representing twelve different high schools and five of JA’s impact areas: Boston, Lawrence, Lowell, Somerville and Quincy. Alumni participated in four 2-hour workshops and then two weeks of in-person career development programming. One cohort was based at the JA Innovation Center and one at Babson Boston. Alumni were provided with resources to eliminate participation obstacles, including clothing stipends, laptops, transportation and a $1,200 participation stipend upon completion of the program, totaling $43,200 of income for our alumni.
We are also excited to report that 76% of our 2023 JA Career Launch participants secured internships as rising sophomores, and we placed 34 alumni into paid internships with our partners earning a total of over $320,000.
Slalom Consulting wrapped up a pro bono consulting project in conjunction with our staff focused on the development of our chapter’s JA Gather Alumni platform. The JA Worldwide staff member that oversees the Gather platform told us, “I am excited for your chapter’s upgrades and usage to set the example of how chapters around the world should be using Gather.”
Long-Term Impact: Measuring Our Success
At JA, we are committed to continuous improvement. We measure our impact through both quantitative and qualitative assessments, including pre- and post-program surveys, testimonials, and feedback from educators and volunteers. Our goal is to ensure that our programs remain relevant, engaging, and effective in preparing students for their futures.
Our commitment extends beyond our students to our partners and funders. As we continue to grow, we are formalizing our relationships with schools through the partnership agreements and strengthening our collaborations with funders. Together, we are working towards a shared goal: closing the racial wealth gap and creating economic opportunities for all young people in our communities.
95%
JA Programs will be important in the future 93% JA programs will help me get a good job
90% JA programs will help me be successful JA programs will help me do better in school I would recommend JA programs to a friend 82% 86%
2024 Student of the Year: Jacob Wu
“The JA experience has also instilled in me a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact on the world around me. The program’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and ethical business practices has helped me develop a holistic understanding of the role that businesses and individuals can play in driving social and economic progress.”
Spotlight on Partnerships: Driving Impact Together
Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Investments has been a dedicated local and national partner of Junior Achievement, consistently supporting our mission to empower youth through financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. True to their culture of giving back, Fidelity Investments hosts our students at their offices, sponsors our annual JA Stock Market Challenge, leads our alumni sessions, and provides program volunteers in our impact communities. Their mission to create access and opportunities for underserved students aligns perfectly with our own, making them an invaluable partner in shaping the future for the next generation.
Staples, Inc.
Welcome to the JA Network, Staples! We are honored to support a relationship between Staples, Inc and Junior Achievement USA. Headquartered in Framingham, Staples is incubating its national partnership right here with us and scaling its support across the nation. From leading JA Inspire sponsorship to designing modules for Job Shadow and hosting alumni interns, Staples continues to show up for our students across the middle school-to-career pathway.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines knows customer service! This year, more than 25 Delta crewmembers generously gave their time and offered their skills as volunteers to JA students and alumni of all ages. Delta volunteers taught “JA Our Nation” at South Lawrence East, displayed an awesome booth at JA Inspire, once again served as Floor Traders at the Stock Market Challenge, coached 3DE students at the Burke High School, and expertly taught the tenets of customer service to JA alumni during the Summer Launch. Thank you, Delta Air Lines, for so generously volunteering while making a significant financial contribution.
RSM is a good neighbor indeed! RSM provided more than 5,750 instructional contact hours at the JA Innovation Center @ RSM. Twenty-eight volunteers supported local students from Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, The Warren-Prescott School, and Charlestown High School. RSM also mentored “Beaconed Expressions,” a JA Company Program with students from Boston College High School and Boston Latin School designing a hat with proceeds going to support youth mental health. Thank you, RSM, for uplifting our community.
2024 Corporate Spirit of JA Award: Fidelity Investments
“Our longstanding partnership with JA of Greater Boston allowed us to go far and make a difference in the lives of our young people year after year. Fidelity is deeply invested in the next generation and the communities where our associates live and work. We invest in those communities by serving as a resource in what we do best: that is, provide financial education in order to increase financial inclusion and mobility for all.”
- Pamela Everhart, Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs, Inclusion, and Impact, Fidelity Investments
Investing in Our Mission: Financial
Summary
Revenues
During
Financial Performance
Summary of Expenses
Our Corporate and Foundation Donors
$100,000 and more
Abbot & Dorothy Stevens Foundation
Delta Air Lines
$50,000 to $99,999
Deloitte Foundation
Experian
Fidelity Investments
$25,000 to $49,999
Achievement Foundation
AIG
CGI
Eos Foundation
KPMG, LLC
$15,000 to $24,999
Accenture
Albrecht Auto Group
ALKU
CNA
eCW Giving Foundation
Enterprise Mobility & Enterprise Mobility Foundation
$10,000 to $14,999
Avanade
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Boston Mutual Life Insurance
Brainly
Charlestown Community Impact Trust Fund
$5,000 to $9,999
Acadian Asset Management
Alithya
Charles Street Strategies
Citisoft
Downeast Ventures
Eastern Bank
Essex County Community Foundation
RSM US, LLP
Santander Bank
Wellington Management Foundation
Liberty Mutual Group and Foundation
Lincoln Financial Foundation
M&T Bank
Main Street Group Foundation
Man US Charitable Trust
EY
Gemline
Horace Moses Foundation
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Needham Bank
Northern Bank & Trust Company
Sanofi & The Genzyme Foundation
Citizens Bank
Comcast
CrossCountry Consulting
Dellbrook | JKS
Eversource
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
Fiduciary Trust
Global Atlantic Financial Group
HarborOne Bank
ICE Fixed Income & Data Services
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
MDD Forensic Accountants
Staples, Inc.
Wells Fargo Capital Finance, Inc.
Anonymous Foundation
Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation
Robert Half
The UPS Stores
TJX Companies, Inc.
Webster Bank, N. A.
Sun Life Financial
The Latino Equity Fund at the Boston Foundation
Voya
Wellpoint (Unicare)
Keolis North America
LendingClub Bank
UPS
Omni Boston Hotel at Seaport
Slalom
Target Circle
Anonymous Corporation
Under $5,000
Aloft Boston Seaport Hotel
At Work Collaborative
BDO
BioConnects - NE
Boston JATC
Boston Scientific
Brookline Bank
Crowe, LLP
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Enterprise Bank
Granite Telecommunications LLC
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Lantheus Medical Imaging
Marcum, LLP
MassPort
Microsoft
MIT Lincoln Labs
Morgan Stanley
Museum of Science
NEI General Contracting
New Balance
New England Council
NNN Properties, LLC
Anonymous Corporation
Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Quincy Credit Union
Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation
Rogers Family Foundation
Salesforce
SPG School Publishing Group
TG Gallagher
The Plourde Family Charitable Trust
THM Advisors
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Our Individual Donors
$100,000 and more
Stephen and Rebecca Sullivan
$10,000 to $49,999
Eddie Perkin
$5,000 to $9,999
Mark Reilly
Richard Alan Renwick
Glenn Ricciardelli
Suzanne Norman
$2,500 to $4,999
Annette Leckie
Gale Murray
Amy Zidow
Andreana Santangelo
Brian Kalberer
$1,000 to $2,499
Lynne Ann Chase
Meaghan McGowan
Sujata Yadav
Bill and Nanci Perocchi
Brian Diepold
Henrik Totterman
Stuart Benton
Christopher Webster
$500 to $999
Melinda Kuleszka
Diana Barlow
Radhames Nova
Jim Sullivan
Jack Royle
Ellen Mager
$250 to 499
Socrates De La Cruz
Erika Neilssen
Oscar Moreno
Charlie Hoban
Chip Barnes
Michael Guerriere
Chris MacKenzie
George Albrecht, Jr.
Frank O’Neill
William “Ted” Truscott
James Boviard
Mark Melito
Rommel Espinal
Emily Neill
James Suppelsa
Jojo Antonio
Ben Giess
Paul Fehrenbach
Elke Trilla
Rod Landis
Tanuja Thikekar
Jason Pacor
Eric Taitano
Charles Nevejans
Rebecca Risk
Ken Lorey
Evelyn Eastmond
Tim Zubak
Pedro Beato
Stephanie Marchand
Rick Tyson
Mark Mathers
Migdalia Diaz
Toly Chea
Rene Jarquin
Russell Norris
Pooja Ika
Jim Goodfield
Stephanie Sakellaris
Gary Sidell
Josh Kanter
Alvania Lopez
Bernard Dockrill
Candice Stover
Anonymous
Heidi Pickett
William Herp
Anonymous
Ann Anderson
Heide Rosier
Maricel Goris
Michelle Murphy
Sheryce Hearns
Smaiyra Million
Anonymous
Marta Bergamaschi
Max Lopez
Brian and Rachel Garity
Richard White
Timothy O’Neil
Richard DeAgazio
Tom Allen
William Driscoll
Raymond Hoefling
John and Nancy Buckley
Andrew Malachowski
Christine Berberich
Karsys Starsiak
Lizette Perez-Deisboeck
Paul Danehy
Raphael Sanchez
Andrea Deverux
$250 to $499
Chris Lemone
Christopher Casey
Jamie Luce
$100 to $249
Morgan Ryall
Phil Cartagena
Catherine Daley
Dave Han
Evelyn Barahona
Francisco Marriott
Amy Fracassini
Under $100:
John McLaughlin
Gregory Boccio
John Griffin
John Ferguson
Victory Y. Hum
Brendan Hughes
Jennifer Smith
Clark McMahon
Hana Vackova
Schuyler Dawson
Brendan Joosten
Guillermo Tello
Rob Granara
Taylor Walston
Brian Eastman
Holly Akikie
Jesus Lopez
Joanne Derr
Jonathan Cain
Marion Dorsch
Michael Douvadjian
Michael Preite
Jack Kerins
Joshua Drew
Robert Furlong
Richard Hammond-Moore
Reid Kenary
Zac Calahan
Kathryn Sheehy
Mary Beth Jokela
Matthew McCudden
Samantha Breen
Adam Naida
Alan Pleat
Brett Budzak
Elizabeth Surabian
Michael Richardson
Abbie Haddad
Enda O’Shea
Erin Davis
Jessica Beatrice
Valerie Arsenault
Stephanie Bernard
Axel Stern
David Goodfellow
Neil Yang
Michael Kelly
R. Bruce Journey
Rob Hazard
Anya Klionsky
Akash Altman
Nicholas Grant
Betzy Santiago
Latia King-Fontanez
Maria Connell
Lauren Campson
Angela Lynch
Ashley Angel
Cameron Feder
Carolyn LaBounty
Conor Harris
Dominique Roy
Haley Golderman
Jasper Oosthoek
John Sokol
Lauren Olin
Madeline Reynolds
Matthew Wilcox
Noelle Casali
Olivia DeMaio
Sam Sherer
Sanjay Raman
Sean Fluchel
Shannon Mansfield
“JA is unique. It gives young people from any background a real stake in our free enterprise system. It gives them tools for success, it gives them role models, and it gives them opportunities. All of which gives them hope for the future.” – Steve Sullivan
