Charlotte, N.C. — Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas is bringing important financial literacy lessons to at-risk students in Charlotte as part of a contribution from AT&T as part of the company’s AT&T Aspire initiative. Ninth through 12th grade students at Harding High School and West Charlotte High School will experience the 13-week JA Finance Park® program, which helps students build a foundation of personal finance skills through in-class learning and an experiential real-life simulation.

JA Finance Park® begins in the classroom, with teacher-led lessons about topics such as income, saving and debit and credit. The program culminates in a “real-life” simulation onsite at [JA Finance Park® location official name]. The reality-based simulation gives students the opportunity to apply classroom learning by creating a family budget based on hypothetical life situations assigned to the students, such as job, salary and family situation.

At JA Finance Park®, the students assume “real-life” personas and learn how to develop and balance a personal budget that includes expenditures including housing and food, savings, transportation, entertainment, health care, child care, utilities, clothing and education.

“We wanted to offer our students the opportunity to see what it’s like in the daily life of a real adult, who has a budget and has to make ends meet,” says Todd Lanham, Regional Director of External Affairs, AT&T North Carolina.

Established in 2003, JA Finance Park® is one of Junior Achievement USA's most successful programs, and more than 1 million students across the United States have gone through the experiential learning program since it first began.

The partnership between Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas and AT&T is a continuation of their joint commitment to providing supplemental learning experiences that help young people in the community develop the competence, confidence and character to make smart academic and economic decisions. AT&T volunteers assist in the delivery of JA Finance Park® as a part of the company’s Aspire Mentoring Academy program. Through Aspire Mentoring Academy, AT&T employees connect with students to help them discover their passions and potential. Aspire Mentoring Academy is part of AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature initiative to promote student success in school and beyond.

See what students and executives are saying about JA Finance Park®: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaPFDYRdSVY

About Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to providing young people in grades K – 12 with the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for the future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves more than 37,000 students annually through its hands-on and experiential educational programs. JA programs are delivered by corporate and communities volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that educate and empower students in the areas of financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurship. Visit www.jacarolinas.org for more information.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities, promote academic and economic achievement, or address community needs. In 2014, nearly $127 million was contributed or directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature education initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism and mentoring.