Mission Federal Credit Union has donated $1 million and becomes naming sponsor in support of Junior Achievement of San Diego County’s Mission Fed JA Finance Park program, focused on increasing the financial literacy of San Diego high school students. The new high school program entails the redevelopment of Junior Achievement curriculum with the use of tablets and mobile apps to prepare tech-savvy millennials for financial success.
“One of the ways Mission Fed gives back to the community is through our commitment to financial education,” said Angie Lasagna, vice president of community relations for Mission Fed. “High schools aren’t always able to offer the types of economics courses that help students learn to budget their money. That is where Mission Fed JA Finance Park can play a key role. We want to do our part to help high school students gain the skills they’ll need to manage their money and reach their goals as confident, successful members of the community, and we hope to do this for Mission Fed JA Finance Park in perpetuity.”
The digital curriculum and custom software enable high school students to engage in real-world financial activities, such as online banking and paying bills via tablet PCs, while being introduced to concepts like insurance, credit and long-term investments. The curriculum also supports real-world simulations where students choose a San Diego job and know their salary, marital status, number of children and their FICO score. Then they shop in the 19 businesses in the park, making choices on how to budget and live within their means.
Joanne Pastula, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of San Diego County, explained that the Mission Fed JA Finance Park starts in the classroom with teachers and community expert volunteers teaching six to nine lessons, where students study income, saving, investing and risk management, and credit. Then they go on a one-day field trip to the park to practice what they’ve learned in a real-world setting. In addition to high school students, nonprofits who offer financial literacy will be welcome to use the park after hours, on weekends or during holidays when school is not in session.
“We are so honored that Mission Federal Credit Union has come forward as our naming sponsor for this remarkable program,” Pastula said. “Mission Fed has once again shown its passion for community involvement with its ongoing support of Junior Achievement and by becoming the cornerstone of JA Finance Park. Students who enroll in this program will build a foundation for making intelligent, lifelong personal-finance decisions.”
“The curriculum better prepares students for financial success through technology they’ve become accustomed to using on a daily basis.” She noted that an estimated 44 percent of millennials look at their phones more than six times an hour. “Mission Fed JA Finance Park embraces this trend and focuses on financial literacy education from early childhood through the post-graduate level to develop a diverse talent pool needed for tomorrow’s workforce in our region,” Lasagna said.
Established in 2003, JA Finance Park is one of Junior Achievement’s most successful programs. More than 1 million students across the United States have gone through the hands-on program since its inception.
