Nov. 14 "Partners in Achievement" Breakfast Features Local Students, Business Volunteers Highlighting Impact of Junior Achievement Education Programs

The 5th Annual New Haven area Partners in Achievement Breakfast to support the financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurship programs of Junior Achievement will be held on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the New Haven Lawn Club.

The popular event brings together business leaders from throughout the region along with students and volunteers, highlighting the critical need for these programs in schools throughout the New Haven region. It has been described as the “most inspiring networking event of the year.” The breakfast begins at 7:15; the program at 8:00 a.m.

Thanks in part to the funds raised at last year’s Partners in Achievement event, roughly 33,000 students in 149 schools from kindergarten through high school have benefitted from financial literacy programs delivered by Junior Achievement volunteers. Additional schools have expressed interest in being added to the JA roster of schools in the coming year, so that their students can learn financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills through JA programs.

Angela D’Arena, who has worked with students at St. Gabriel’s School in Milford alongside colleagues from EBP Supply Solutions, will speak about her experiences as a JA volunteer.

Student speakers will be Kevin Carnale, 12th grade student from Sheehan High School in Wallingford, who participated in JA’s Global Connection Program in China, and several students from Bishop Woods School in New Haven who have experienced JA’s classroom programs for several years.

“JA is focused on one of the most powerful ideas possible – giving young people the knowledge, the tools and the inspiration to understand our economy and make their way in the world,” said Lou Golden, president of JA of Southwest New England. “The annual breakfast is incredibly inspiring, as students, volunteers and educators highlight the impact of these programs – and the volunteers who deliver them – on students’ knowledge, confidence and career prospects.”

Partners in Achievement breakfast sponsors include Marcum, Bohan & Bradstreet, and People’s United Bank. JA’s Partners in Achievement breakfast is a fundraising event that supports JA’s financial education programs in the schools. Though the breakfast is free to attend, guests will be asked to make a financial contribution. The annual event has become one of New Haven’s best opportunities to network with the region’s business leaders and to be inspired by students, educators and volunteers who have all experienced JA programs.

“If JA never came to my school to talk to us about jobs and the world of work I would never have been so inspired. They work really hard for kids like me to be encouraged to dream big,” Gabriela Gonzalez, then a sixth grade student at the Columbus Family Academy in New Haven, told attendees at last year’s event.

The host committee for the Partners in Achievement Breakfast includes: Chris Berg of Go Berg or Go Home, Bo Bradstreet of Bohan & Bradstreet in Guilford, Jeff Klaus of Webster Bank in New Haven, Mary Mumper of Higher One in New Haven, Jeremy Soboleski of Snowden Capital Advisors in New Haven, and Kate Baumann and Kierstin Pupkowski of WTNH. Also on the host committee is Diane Wishnafski, retired executive from NewAlliance Bank and a JA Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

Members of JA’s New Haven Advisory Board will also serve as ambassadors for the event. They include: Sharon Burns (Walmart), Gregg Burton (Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey), Larry Carboni (McGladrey), William Creaser (Chase), Matt DesFosses (Anthem), Beth Higggins (Bohan & Bradstreet), Peter Kozodoy (GEM Advertising), Brian Levine (People’s United Bank), Joseph LoPresti (EBP Supply Solutions), Hugh Manke (Updike, Kelly & Spellacy), Samuel McKnight (retired; AT&T), James Miller (Marcum), Helene Robbins (Wells Fargo), Cathleen Russo (Milford Bank), Lynn St. James (Comcast) and Brian Walker (Walker & Associates). Edward Bradstreet of Bohan & Bradstreet and David Keiser, both JA Business Hall of Fame Laureates, will also serve as ambassadors.

Last year, 2,500 volunteers – business professionals, parents, retirees, and college students – offered JA programs to students in schools throughout New Haven, Middlesex, Hartford, Litchfield, Windham, Tolland, and New London counties.

To RSVP for the Partners in Achievement breakfast on November 14 please contact Jeremy Race at jrace@jaconn.org or 860-525-4510 x225. To learn more about JA, visit www.jaconn.org.