Students at Benedictine Military School will learn important financial literacy skills, thanks to a generous grant from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company that will implement Junior Achievement programming.
 
MassMutual volunteers will teach senior cadets personal finance classes including JA Exploring Economics that will be taught this fall. Through hands-on classroom activities, JA Exploring Economics fosters lifelong skills and knowledge about how the economy works, including micro-, macro-, personal and international economics.
 
This is the third year MassMutual has gifted funds to support Junior Achievement programs across the United States to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to make smart academic and economic choices. Totaling more than $100,000, this year’s grant will serve schools in 12 locations: Los Angeles (Calif.), Savannah (Ga.), Atlanta (Ga.), New Jersey, Las Vegas (Nev.), Rochester (N.Y.), Jacksonville (Fla.), Austin (Texas), Washington D.C., Springfield (Mass.), Memphis (Tenn.) and Baltimore (Md.).
 
“Eighty-eight percent of teens think kindergarten through 12th grade is the best time to learn money management skills, yet only 24 percent of teens say their school has money management classes,” said Jen Singeisen, Sr. Director of Programs. “With MassMutual’s help, we are able to bring this critical coursework to Savannah students and help prepare our students for the reality of financial freedom.”  
Since 2013, MassMutual’s commitment to Junior Achievement has facilitated financial education for nearly 3,000 students in 12 communities across the U.S. In fact, 97 percent of teachers who participated in the 2013 program believed it had a positive impact on students, with one educator sharing, “Having our students engage in real-world learning activities helps illustrate what they need to know today to make them successful tomorrow. The participation of MassMutual volunteers as community role models is why this partnership is so valuable and essential to student outcomes.”

“Helping people secure their financial futures and protect the ones they love is at the core of who we are,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, vice president, community responsibility, MassMutual. “Last year, one student shared that after participating in the JA program at school and drafting a budget, he went home and talked to his mom about her budget. They had a meaningful conversation about the cost of living and importance of saving and financial goals – these conversations are why MassMutual continues to value our relationship with Junior Achievement. Learning to make smart financial decisions early in life can help young people make the transition to higher education and financial independence later in life.”

Junior Achievement’s mission is a direct correlation with MassMutual’s mission to make a difference in local communities and help families become more confident in their financial decisions and empower them to take control of their financial situations.