Thousands of students in Springfield will be participating in Junior Achievement programs through the generosity of a $75,000 grant from the MassMutual Foundation.

The Building the Future Through Volunteerism project supports students in 6th -12th grade as they explore STEM Careers and activities that increase financial literacy. The project leverages the skills, talent, educational and career opportunities of this region to create a cadre of role models from the community to weave multiple intersecting pathways. JA Volunteers serve as role models and use age-appropriate JA programs and materials to provide students with the tools to develop the 21st century skills needed to become highly skilled, autonomous employees.

“With the MassMutual Foundation’s help, we are able to bring this critical coursework to area students and help prepare our students for the reality of financial decision making,” said Jennifer Connolly, President of JA of Western Massachusetts.

Students will participate in JA programs such as the JA Company Program, JA Personal Finance, JA Finance Park Virtual, JA Economics for Success, It’s My Future, JA Global Marketplace, JA It’s My Business, JA Job Shadow, and JA Titan.