For more information:
Wendy Walleigh
408-988-8915x208
wwalleigh@jascc.org
For innovative corporate team building, the San Jose office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) used its accounting and business skills to help students understand how their world really works. Utilizing Junior Achievement's Kindergarten through 5th Grade curricula, over 65 volunteers taught 750 students at Vinci Park Elementary School in San Jose on December 3, 2002. Without even knowing it, students were taught how to apply what they learn in school to the daily workings of their families, neighborhood, communities, and businesses around them. The subtle message throughout the day is to stay in school and get as much education as you can for your future to "count." And the PwC volunteers had a great time seeing how competitive, innovative and enthusiastic elementary Silicon Valley students can be.
Over many years, PricewaterhouseCoopers has partnered with Junior Achievement of Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay as the premier K - 12 local economic education organization. Since 1953, Junior Achievement has worked with Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay communities, educational institutions, and businesses like PWC to teach young people the principles of free enterprise so that they understand business and economics, are workforce-ready, and are prepared to be successful, contributing citizens in our community.
Volunteers were paired in teams (a more junior person with a senior manager or partner) that allowed people to work toward a common goal, get to know each other in a totally new way, and have fun with kids while doing it. Junior Achievement's staff created a virtually turnkey experience with packaged curriculum (per grade level), onsite training, and JA in a Day support. John Buchanan, a PwC Partner and local JA Board Member said, "My team's fifth grade students assembled pens to facilitate learning unit vs. mass production methods. Each time the students tried the assembly process, without our prompting, they made interesting suggestions on what things they could do differently to make more pens each time. Wow, are they ever competitive. It was rewarding to watch the students learn without them realizing it because they were having fun. And any time you can learn with your fellow workers in a spirited, exciting setting while positively impacting kids is a truly unique and powerful combination."
In mid-2001, John moved to Silicon Valley from Dallas, Texas. After playing in the Junior Achievement Golf Classic during Fall 2001, he became interested in joining the JA Board. With his enthusiasm, this PricewaterhouseCoopers and Junior Achievement partnership has fully blossomed in the last six months to include a Bowlathon (PwC raised $10,000 on Nov. 21, 2002), this JA in a Day at Vinci Park School, and a special "Accounting" module for JA's Success Skills to be piloted next semester in several local high schools. PwC accountants will be provided time to teach these pilots and will spread the word around PwC of their own success with the high school students. Another JA in a Day is planned for Spring 2003.
And the PwC volunteers at Vinci Park would agree that working with the students was more fun than they could have imagined. PricewaterhouseCooper's Michele Shahroody summed it up well; "Even though they didn't necessarily understand what PwC Tax does, it was important for them to hear that we went to college and work in a profession that they had never thought about--even if nothing more comes out of it than to jump-start their imaginations and instill the idea that they can do anything if they try. This program was different from other charity/teaming events I had ever participated in because of the direct contact with students. The kids were inquisitive, smart, and eager to participate. Our biggest reward was watching the students laugh and enjoy themselves while learning."
The PricewaterhouseCoopers volunteers thoroughly enjoyed their experience with the Vinci Park students. As accountants, it was particularly rewarding to know that what they accomplished in just one day with Junior Achievement helps these children know that they can have an exciting future that will count in Silicon Valley. To learn more about your company's having such a rewarding experience, please contact us at info@jascc.org or 408-988-8915.
Junior Achievement of Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay is the premier K - 12 local economic education organization. Globally, Junior Achievement is the largest and fastest-growing nonprofit economic education organization, annually teaching 6 million elementary, middle school and high school students in over 110 countries. Junior Achievement's mission is to ensure that every child in America has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system. Since 1953, Junior Achievement has partnered with businesses, communities and schools from Silicon Valley to Monterey Bay to teach young people the principles of free enterprise so that they understand business and economics and are workforce-ready. Only Junior Achievement teaches K - 12th grade students about the relevance of school to their future success by using community and business role models to bring our classroom programs to life. In multiple classroom visits, these volunteers use their experience and knowledge to help students become workforce-ready by applying critical thinking and school skills to solving real-world problems. As a result, approximately 27,500 children from this past year will impact Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay communities as successful individuals, workers and consumers. Junior Achievement of Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay: Impacting local economic education one classroom at a time. For more information and to get involved, visit http://www.jascc.org or call 408-988-8915.
