November 29, 2023
Southwestern Ontario – Libro Credit Union is renewing its partnership with Junior Achievement South Western Ontario to expand the delivery of financial literacy programming to over 4,000 elementary and high school students in Ontario.
Libro has committed $150,000 over three years for students in grade 4 through high school to build financial literacy skills that will significantly impact their future.
There’s never been a more important time for youth to learn how to manage their finances, with a difficult economic climate and an increase of the average Canadian’s debt.
“With support like this gift from Libro, JA takes a proactive approach to help students avoid the cycle of poverty,” said Karen Gallant, President and CEO of JA South Western Ontario. “Every student that we reach early with relevant hands-on learning brings that knowledge forward into their future financial decision-making and ultimately into their community.”
JA programming helps students develop real-world skills that they can apply to their lives immediately – such as budgeting, investing, and aligning their financial choices with their goals. Currently celebrating their 60th Anniversary, JA South Western Ontario has just added “Quick Inspirations” to their offerings, enabling teachers, parents, and students themselves to access experiential online learning in 30-minutes or less. The organization also kicked off November with a region-wide virtual Personal Finance Event for high school students, with more to come throughout the year.
“Libro has been a strong supporter of Junior Achievement for more than a decade. That’s because we share their values and their passion for building a strong foundation in financial literacy for youth empowering them with skills and tools to help them succeed,” said Shawn Good, President and CEO of Libro Credit Union. “Building this foundation early can have a real impact in the financial well-being of a person.”
Good adds, “It’s not easy for students to establish a relationship with a financial advisor at a young age. And while they might be learning some tips and tricks from their parents or caregivers, it’s more likely that their early touchpoints with money and how to manage it are more passive. JA programs designed for the classroom is a great way for youth to receive tools to build financial knowledge and the confidence to make better financial decisions later in life.”
A recent comment from a Grade 7 Teacher who brought JA Dollars with Sense into their classroom highlighted the difference-maker JA is for students: “Students never asked ‘When will we use this in life?’. They were engaged and enjoyed the activities immensely.”
This financial contribution and partnership renewal follows an investment of $114,750 in 2021 when Libro Credit Union was the first to invest in the newly amalgamated Junior Achievement charter.
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We warmly welcome interview opportunities. For more information, please contact:
Junior Achievement South Western Ontario
JA South Western Ontario is a member of JA Canada and part of JA Worldwide (JA), the world’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about business. Through the delivery of hands-on, blended learning in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness, JA empowers young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings, and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Since 1963, schools in South Western Ontario have relied on JA to prepare young people for success in an ever-changing global economy. JA South Western Ontario is responsible for the geographic area including the counties of Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Huron, Perth, Bruce, Grey, Wellington, Waterloo, Brant, Hamilton, Haldimand-Norfolk, and Niagara.
Jenne Wason, Director of Marketing & Communications
519.439.4201 x234, jwason@jaswo.org, jaswo.org
Libro Credit Union
The largest credit union in southwestern Ontario and a registered B Corp, Libro Credit Union serves 113,000 Owners – the customers who all own a piece of the company, including 12,000 businesses. Libro has more than 800 employees, 30 locations and a wide range of digital services, all supporting Owners as a full-service financial institution.
For 80 years, Libro is also run as a cooperative, in which the customers are the shareholders, electing the Board of Directors. All of Libro’s profits stay in southwestern Ontario and everything Libro does is aligned with its social purpose of growing prosperity for everyone in the region.
Mike Donachie, Communications Manager
226-926-4068, mike.donachie@libro.ca, libro.ca/media
Attachments provided by Junior Achievement:
