Waste Management Sponsors JA in a Day Event

December 06, 2007

[South Hadley, MA] Volunteers from Waste Management, PeoplesBank, Easthampton Savings Bank, TD Banknorth, Hasbro and Junior Achievement present JA’s Our Region Program to all 172 fourth grade students at Mosier Elementary School recently. Dennis O’Connor and James Caminiti from Waste Management proposed the idea of sponsoring a JA in a Day event at Mosier Elementary School to the JA staff in mid-September. The group decided to highlight the Our Region program because the program introduces the relationship between the natural, human, and capital resources found in different regions and explores regional businesses that produce goods and services for consumers. It was an opportunity for Waste Management volunteers to talk to the children about the importance of recycling.

A young boy in Ms. Carr’s fourth grade told his JA volunteer, “This is the best day ever!” After the students completed the five JA activities, all the fourth graders, their teachers and the JA volunteers gathered in the cafeteria for a celebration rally. Carolyn Lindsay, from Hasbro made the crowd roar when she presented each fourth grade teacher with a copy of the “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” board game. Waste Management volunteers gave each child a “goodie bag” with a ruler and Frisbee made from recycled materials, a light-up pen and a small foam Waste Management truck. Students also received a Certificate on Completion for their JA program. Dennis O’Connor, from Waste Management was so thrilled with the success of the day that a similar day is planned in the spring for an elementary school in Chicopee where Waste Management has a landfill.

Volunteers for the day included: Dennis O’Connor, James Caminiti, Lynne Crandall, Maurice Gervais, Brian Santos, Melissa Glavin-Guillote, and Mike Moores from Waste Management; Erinn Young and Jessica Bodon from PeoplesBank; Holly Fuller, Easthampton Savings Bank; Carolyn Lindsay, Hasbro; and Rose Helman, TD Banknorth. Ms. Helman’s granddaughter was one of the fourth graders who participated in the event.

For more information about Junior Achievement and how you can get involved, please visit our web site at www.jawm.org or call (413) 747-7670.

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today more than Junior Achievement Worldwide reaches almost seven million students in 98 countries. For more information, visit www.jawm.org.