Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas Receives Contribution to Support JA's What a Difference a Day Makes Initiative

State Farm® Youth Advisory Board grants $100,000

HOUSTON, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The State Farm Youth Advisory Board announced that Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas will receive a $100,000 service-learning grant for JA's What a Difference a Day Makes initiative, a financial literacy service-learning project.

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Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas is one of 64 community organizations to receive a youth-led service-learning grant across the United States and Canada.

"This hands-on service-learning project builds relationships between high schools and elementary schools within a specific community while providing high school students with the opportunity to learn the value of service  and developing skills as presenters, facilitators and leaders at the same time," said Rick Franke , president, JA of Southeast Texas. "Financial literacy is a critical life skill for everyone, with something to learn at every age, but research shows that many students don't understand the basic principles of personal finance, and this effort can have an impact on the student's future success."

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted over $20.7 million in grant money since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in 331 communities.

Additionally, applications are available for interested, passionate youth aged 17-20 to become a Youth Advisory Board member.  More information can be found at www.statefarmyab.com.  Applications must be submitted online by October 3

About Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas: Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas is the greater Houston area's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network of 12,000 adult role models, JA of Southeast Texas provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12 which focus on entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. Today, JA of Southeast Texas reaches 231,000 students in nearly 900 schools.  For more information, visit www.jahouston.org.

About the Youth Advisory Board: The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a diverse group of 30 youth, ages 17-20, who were chosen through a competitive process to lead and oversee this $5 million/year signature service-learning initiative. The Youth Advisory Board identified the issues, issued competitive grants and will now provide technical assistance, communication and oversight to grantees.

Kevin R Hattery, 713.682.4500, ext 231, khattery@jahouston.org

SOURCE Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas

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http://houston.ja.org