Junior Achievement Of Southern Ca

Junior Achievement's (JA) mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

JA was originally founded in 1919 by Horace Moses, President of Strathmore Paper Company, Theodore Vail, President of AT&T, and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts with the goal of helping high school students prepare for the economic and personal financial challenges associated with adulthood. Its first program, JA Company Program®, was offered to high school students on an after-school basis. In 1975, the organization entered the classroom with the introduction of Project Business for the middle grades. JA has since developed expertise in providing fundamental economic and financial literacy education programs as well as its entrepreneur, career exploration, and professional readiness programs to students. Over the last 46 years, JA has expanded its activities and broadened its scope to include programs for in-school, after-school, and distance learning students, grades K-12, world-wide. 

Founded locally in Orange County in 1954 as a district office of JA of Southern California, JA of Orange County has a successful track record of impacting students of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Accomplishments:
Since its founding in 1954, JA of Orange County has maintained a focus on low-to-moderate income students with at least 68% of Orange County students impacted annually being low-to-moderate income. In recent years, 71-73% of Orange County students receiving JA programs have been low-to-moderate income, mainly from the Anaheim City School District, Ocean View School District, and Santa Ana Unified School District.

JA of Orange County held its most successful Stock Market Championship fundraising event ever on October 17, 2019. This unique event brings Orange County business professionals together for a night of food, drink, and friendly investment competition while supporting financial literacy education in Orange County. Starting with $500,000 in fictitious stock, teams of 4 compete against one another to see who can earn the highest return on investment and highest net worth. This signature fundraiser was attended by over 150 guests and raised almost $140,000.

Like many nonprofits, Junior Achievement of Orange County and Inland Empire (JA OCIE) continues to navigate a rapidly changing landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, shifting donor priorities, and evolving educational delivery models. With many corporate and foundation partners facing budget constraints and a growing emphasis on digital engagement, traditional sources of funding—particularly event-driven revenue—remain inconsistent.

At the same time, the need for equitable access to real-world financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship education has never been greater. Many students across the region—especially in underserved communities—still face barriers to opportunity, from limited access to technology to a lack of exposure to diverse career paths.

In response, JA OCIE is expanding its digital and hybrid programming to meet students where they are—whether that’s in classrooms, at home, or through mobile and virtual experiences. We are harnessing the power of volunteer storytelling through recorded video content, virtual mentoring, and interactive tools to connect students with the skills, confidence, and role models they need to thrive in the modern economy.

Orange County, California, Riverside County, California, San Bernardino County, California

Over the past 100 years, JA has delivered economic and financial literacy education programs to students to provide them with access to tools needed to make smart financial decisions and own their economic success.
 
JA of Orange County's staff, Board members, and volunteers are dedicated to inspiring students to achieve at the business of life through JA's economic education and financial literacy programs.

Is there anything more gratifying than seeing the “light go on” with a young person who has learned a life-changing lesson? I’ve experienced that moment as a Junior Achievement volunteer leader. When you give to JA Orange County, you’re not just providing kids the gift of financial literacy. You’re planting the seeds of a better life - for all of us.