Leading Companies Go Bowling to Support Student Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Workforce Readiness Programs

With the camaraderie of bowling, some of Connecticut’s top companies are taking the lead in supporting volunteer-delivered financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness programs developed by Junior Achievement for students in local schools. Three events are taking place this fall, with more already on the spring calendar.

Providing children with positive role models who illustrate ways to build self-confidence, develop skills and find avenues of success in our economic system, is a hallmark of Junior Achievement. JA programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential.

Junior Achievement’s Bowl-A-Thon events, held throughout the year, bring together hundreds of business professionals representing area companies to raise awareness and funds for JA. Last year, 840 bowlers representing more than 25 companies raised $110,000 by participating in one of the seven Bowl-A-Thon events which directly support JA programs – a figure that JA officials hope to exceed this year, given the increasing interest expressed by area schools in bringing JA programs to their students.

“The Bowl-A-Thon is a great way for companies to have a social event while supporting students in their community,” said Lou Golden, President of JA of Southwest New England. “It is a tremendous team building opportunity, as company leaders interact with employees and their families in a fun environment - and it promotes awareness in the community of the company’s active support for educating our future workforce.”

A Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon consists of local company employees, JA supporters and other individuals forming a team of five bowlers to raise funds to benefit Junior Achievement programs. Each team of five is typically asked to raise a minimum of $500 in pledges or a minimum of $100 per bowler. Each team will enjoy two games of bowling, shoe rental, food and soft drinks at the bowling event as well as the opportunity to win great door prizes. It is one of Junior Achievement’s leading fundraising initiatives that depend on the active involvement of businesses and individuals.

The first Bowl-A-Thon events of the season were sponsored by Northeast Utilities, on September 28 at Revolutions Bowling and Lounge in South Windsor, and RSCC Wire and Cable, on November 18 at Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks. Upcoming Bowl-A-Thons include:

Tuesday, December 9, 5:30pm – 8:00pm - United Technologies Corporation - Silver Lanes, East Hartford

With the help of JA fundraisers such as Bowl-A-Thons, Junior Achievement provides programs and materials to the schools at no charge. Students are exposed to dynamic role models who reinforce the importance of education and staying in school while building a strong foundation for future success. The funds raised through Bowl-A-Thon events will allow for more Connecticut students to experience valuable JA programs.

The roster of leading businesses participating in JA Bowl-A-Thons include: Accenture, Aetna, Deloitte & Touche LLP, East Hartford High School, Ernst & Young, Fiondella Milone & LaSaracina, First Niagara, The Hartford, High School, Inc., Higher One, Kohl’s, KPMG LLP, Northeast Utilities, Marcum LLP, McGladrey LLP, MetLife, Lincoln Financial, People’s United Bank, Prudential, R-SCC Wire and Cable LLC, Regional Water Authority, Robert Half International, Snowden Capital Advisors, United Illuminating Holdings Corporation and United Technologies Corporation.

Last year, more than 2,500 volunteers - business professionals, parents, retirees, and college students – offered JA programs to nearly 33,000 students in K-12 schools throughout Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, Windham, Tolland, New London and Middlesex counties. More than 150 schools participate during the school year.

Bowl-A-Thons already scheduled for next spring include:

• Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 3:30pm- 9:00pm

The Hartford – Bradley Bowl, Windsor Locks

• Tuesday, May 12, 2015, 5:30pm – 8:00pm

New Haven Networking Event - Circle Lanes, East Haven

• Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Accenture - Silver Lanes, East Hartford

• Thursday, June 11, 2015, 5:30pm – 8:00pm

Hartford Networking Event - Silver Lanes, East Hartford

Individuals interested in signing up for a team for one of the events listed above can go to www.firstgiving.com/jact. To discuss hosting your own company event, please contact Jennifer Boschen at (860)525-4510 ext.227 or jboschen@jaconn.org. To learn more about JA visit www.jaconn.org.