Donor and Sponsor Testimonials

Additional Testimonials

Steve Troy, CEO
Areofund & JA Board Member

Junior achievement with its army of volunteers provides that hope and inspiration for students.

Ken Wilcox, President
Silicon Valley Financial Group

We continue to hear news of our unstable economy- we look to organizations like Junior Achievement that offer us the opportunity to reach out and directly impact our children’s future economic stability.

Bill Baron
Brandenburg Properties

What a wonderful opportunity provided by Junior Achievement, to bring different generations together, to share and learn from each other.

Sam Downing, President & CEO
Salinas Valley Memorial Health Care System

The investment in teaching our valley’s young people now how to control their personal finances will pay dividends in the long term.

Deborah Barber, HR Consultant
Former Junior Achievement Board Member

Companies need to be actively involved in the schools, to expose children to the jobs that we're currently doing and jobs of the future.

John Buchanan, JA Board Member and Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers

JA gives our people the opportunity to participate in the community and gain the skills and confidence in supporting the community and interacting with young students.

Maryles Casto, Pres. & CEO
Casto Travel
Chair, 50th Anniversary Honorary Committee

I am delighted to be JA’s Honorary Chair for 2003. JA is close to my heart and I want to support its wonderful efforts here. With our Committee Members and the businesses and organizations they represent, we will ensure that Junior Achievement’s vision and mission remain not only applicable, but also absolutely key to Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay. Our 50th Anniversary activities will both celebrate Junior Achievement’s amazing accomplishments AND help lay the groundwork for JA’s next 50 years.

Chi-Foon Chan, COO
Synopsys

Synopsys is proud of our ongoing partnership with Junior Achievement and commend them for offering a premier K-12 economy education programs.

Pat Dando, Vice Mayor
City of San Jose
50th Anniversary Honorary Committee

I am honored and proud to support Junior Achievement. For the past 50 years they have made a positive contribution to our children's lives and our community. It is my honor, to continue working with many dedicated people who have made Junior Achievement a success.

Steve Gonabe, National Director of HR
Household International

Through JA we will continue to have an impact on children's views of their environment and business.

Deidre Hanford, Senior Vice President, Business and Market Development
Synopsys

When students are able to experience the working world first-hand, we believe that valuable seeds are planted that will help these young people make sound career decisions in the years ahead.

Jay Harris, Retired Publisher
San Jose Mercury News

Junior Achievement provides an excellent conduit for connecting business role models with youth - teaching them the basics of our economic system and the necessary skills to be successful I the workplace.

Philip Jung, Partner
A.T. Kearney & JA Board Member

As a result of my JA association, I generally have a better understanding of nonprofits. I get to meet a number of people from different disciplines, and I see that JA is very positive and can make a difference helping kids.

Bill Krause, CEO
Caspian Networks

It's been fun meeting the JA students because they come from such diverse circumstances. For instance, I got to know the young woman who interviewed me for my Laureate video. She was born in Russia, moved here when she was nine or ten with little or no English, and after graduating from a high school in San Jose, she told me that she wanted to go to university in Europe to retain an international perspective. I've also judged at the JA Company Student Competitions and hosted the winning team for lunch. I've been amazed at the personal and economic barriers that these young people must overcome to succeed. All these bright, articulate, and determined students clearly gained from their JA experience, and give me hope for the future.

Zoe Lofgren, U.S. Representative from California (D-San Jose)

It is programs like Junior Achievement that make the difference in our community through their continued dedication and service to education. I congratulate them on their success over the past 50 years. Connecting education and the workplace advances students, their career goals and enhances the future workforce of this country.

Glen McLaughlin, Board Member
Greater Bay Bancorp

JA is the only program in K-12 schools to cover practical aspects of the business life. It’s needed!

Bobby Mehta, Group Executive
Household International (Credit Card Services)

At Household, we have a long history of giving back to the communities where we live and work. I'm excited by our partnership and honored to serve on the board of an organization that strives to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise. Our partnership with Junior Achievement allows us to take an active role in the education of our children--our future employees and consumers.

Craig Nordlund, General Counsel
Agilent & former JA Board Member

JA provides a foundation to make a difference... Now in the post-Enron era, it's important for Silicon Valley companies to understand what values kids can learn from JA to counter those problems. It is more important than ever to demonstrate that most corporations have good business ethics and provide more than a paycheck and stock value in the world. JA can help us restore Corporate America's image.

Mike O'Farrell, Vice President, Global Community Affairs
Applied Materials

For many years, our support has included not only financial, but also active company leadership and employee involvement. Engagement in Junior Achievement classrooms reflects our interest in providing employees with the opportunity to help educate young people and shape the Valley's workforce. Through Junior Achievement programs, the Applied volunteers have shared experience, expertise, and time with local children helping them better understand their role in our economy. In turn, by presenting the JA programs in local classrooms, the volunteers gain a better understanding of our education system, learn what kids are like in today's schools, and have an opportunity to polish their own presentation and organizational skills.

Ben T. Smith IV, CEO
Spoke Software & JA Board Member

Being on the JA Board is about creating the opportunity for the kids as well as creating staying power in Silicon Valley that takes the right message to kids.

John A. Sobrato, CEO
Sobrato Development

I was fortunaute enough to gain business experience working summers during grammer school, and then later, high school. JA offers those who might not have a summer job opportunity, a similar work/business experience.

Jamie Van Den Ven
Chair, Junior Achievement & Retired Intel Corp. Division Manger

This is how WE fight terrorism successfully. Young people who believe in themselves and have role models such as yourselves, do not turn to such terrible acts to express themselves. They see alternatives and they have confidence in themselves, in democracy, and yes, in the free enterprise system.

Wendy Walleigh, Vice President, Marketing
Junior Achievement

It was clear that the Agilent Labs employees [in the Job Shadow program] thoroughly enjoyed getting the high school students excited about science.

Bill Wuestenhoefer, HR Director, retired & former JA Board Member
Applied Materials

That an organization could adapt and bring what was needed to students - being on the cutting edge - over 50 years is amazing. It shows just how well JA has managed to provide the vision and meet the future needs of our students.

Jamie Van Den Ven
Chair, Junior Achievement & Retired Intel Corp. Division Manger

I'd like every person in this valley to know JA and for:

Every parent to demand JA in their school and to ask why it's not there if it's not;

Every politician to understand that JA is crucial to our future;

Every company across the valley to line up at our door to include us as part of their community involvement.

Donor and Sponsor Testimonials

Student Testimonials

Volunteer Testimonials

Educator Testimonials