Join us for our annual panel discussion with representatives of nonprofit organizations making a difference in our community. Learn about the impact they are making and how you can get involved in their mission.
The 2020 Panel includes:
Junior Achievement of Alabama
Jennifer Smith | Operations Coordinator
Founded nationally in 1919 and locally in 1954, Junior Achievement’s (JA) mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Junior Achievement uses hands-on experiences to help youth understand the economics of life. In partnership with business and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. JA programs deal with real issues like career exploration & workforce readiness, financial literacy, and business & entrepreneurship so young people not only understand their opportunities in life but can also take advantage of those opportunities.
Driving our efforts to meet that mission is an underlying set of core values:
Belief in the boundless potential of all young people
Commitment to the principles of market-based economics and entrepreneurship
Passion for what we do and honesty, integrity, and excellence in how we do it
Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives, and backgrounds of all individuals
Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration
Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning
JA is fundamentally a volunteer organization. Dedicated individuals give their time in the classroom to educate and inspire young people. Volunteers are the hallmark of the organization and no other non-profit organization has this “in-the-classroom reach.” JA’s nearly 250,000 classroom volunteers around the world come from all walks of life and include business people, college students, parents, and retirees. Locally, in 2019-20, over 1,000 volunteers taught more than 874 programs impacting more than 19,000 young people.
STAND
Rhona Davis | Director
Formed in 2014, STAND was created as a means to meet the immediate, essential needs of women, children and families in and around our community. We believe that the first step in making a difference is to STAND – to be counted on – and to STAND as a symbol of our community.
Our vision is our name – STAND: Stronger Together AND… together we can do big things. Whether it’s raising money and finding resources to clean the property and patch the roof of a elderly, bedridden neighbor, providing pizzas to the homeless who gather at the warming stations in Boutwell Auditorium during the brutally cold winter months, or supporting victims of human trafficking with tutoring for their GED or a new suit for job interviews. STAND has allowed us to witness the heartbreak and need in our community, and then work together with volunteers, family and friends to address it. We identify the need and address it quickly, remaining sensitive to the dignity of each person. It is through our experiences that we learn that circumstances do not define a person, they only help to shape us into the people we are all meant to become as we learn to STAND together.
100% of every donation received by STAND goes directly to an individual, family, or cause in need.