History
Junior Achievement was founded here in Western Massachusetts in 1919 by Horace Moses, President of Strathmore Paper, Theodore Vail, President of American Telegraph and Telephone and Senator Murray Crane. These three gentlemen started JA as a collection of small, after-school business clubs for students in Springfield. From its humble start with a handful of children, ages 10-12, JA has grown to become a worldwide organization serving more than 7 million students, grades K-12, around the globe.
In 1919, Horace Moses, Theodore Vail and Senator Crane envisioned a program where students were taught how to think and plan for a business, acquire supplies and talent, build their own products, advertise and sell.
Today the purpose of JA, remains basically the same, is to educate and inspire youth to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve the quality of their lives.In partnership with business and educators, we are able to bring the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential while promoting work-force readiness and teaching life skills.
Please view pictures from JA in the past!