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Achieve...

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Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Results Realty GA RE Lic # 282060
Burroughs poses with Thomas Edison and Henry F...
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For Christmas, I thought I would talk a little bit about gifts... and one that you might consider giving.  Give a kid a Junior Achievement experience.  For free...

Yes, I said FREE...

Sure, you can donate some cash to Junior Achievement, but what the kids REALLY need is adults that will come in to the classrooms and deliver the material.  Seriously... this takes an hour a week (plus commute time), or just one day if you do the "JA in a Day" program.

There are programs for kids from Kindergarten up through High School.  They cover topics ranging from where goods come from to business ethics.  For the last two school years I have been presenting a program to 5th graders.  It is an amazing amount of fun. And despite what you may hear, the kids are incredibly engaged and curious.  We talk about entrepreneurship and how businesses play to their strengths... and how businesses interact with each other.

We have talked about everything from Henry Ford to Phineas & Ferb.  The secret seems to be to find things that the kids can identify with (cartoons and cars work for me...) and then use those to bring the lessons home.

Ms Adames ClassBut there is another cool secret...  The kids will LOVE having you in the class because you are different. You aren't the adults that they see every other day of the school year...

Sure, JA could use a monetary donation, but what the kids REALLY need is you.  Business people, entrepreneurs, creative folks.  The kids need you to introduce them to business, and show them how people like you make their lives better every single day.

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Comments(10)

John Puplava
ABC Home Inspections,L.L.C. - Prescott, AZ
ABC Home Inspections,L.L.C.

Lane--I remember my days when I did Junior Achievement back the seventy's.I really love it..You gave me great way to give back to the community..Thank you for sharing.

Dec 25, 2010 02:23 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

What would Christmas be without a Lane Bailey Post.  I will look into this JA.  Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope that you are blessed in the new year.

Dec 25, 2010 03:41 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Lane,

Merry Christmas!  I like the beard on the guy in the center.

Mike in Tucson

Dec 25, 2010 03:45 PM
Liz Flint
Century 21 Hardee-Team Realty - Houston, TX
Houston\Tomball Realtor (832)816-8066

Hi Lane, an inspriational blog.  Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Dec 25, 2010 05:03 PM
Maureen Fukumoto
Help-U-Sell Realty Pro - Mililani, HI
Maureen

I've heard of JA but didn't know it was so hands-on with the kids.  That's so much more fun than just making a donation.

Dec 25, 2010 07:30 PM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Lane,

JA is a great program. Thanks for posting about it in a very positive way. :)

Steve

Dec 26, 2010 01:45 AM
Christina ONeal
At Home Real Estate Group - Ripon, CA
Realtor - Ripon California

What a great program & you are so right, the kids need us to show up & share :)

Dec 26, 2010 01:49 AM
Bob Jakowinicz
National Realty Centers Livonia--Bob Jakowinicz - Livonia, MI
Michigan Real Estate Agent-- MI Real Adventures

Nice post.  Helping out is a great thing no doubt, JA can really help kids stay on the right path.

Dec 26, 2010 01:50 AM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Thanks to all of you for the comments...  I made a commitment to present to all six 5th Grade classes at one school.  The program takes 5 weeks, one hour a week for each class.  So, I do two classes each Monday.  I finished one pair up a couple of weeks ago, and have another pair coming up after the first of the year. 

When my wife, my 2 year old and I went to the school for my 1st Grader's Christmas Party, we ran into the kids from my first two classes in the hallway.  My wife was shocked by all of the kids running up to hug me and how eager they were to meet her and Jackson. 

It is very rewarding, especially since this is my community and I see these kids (and get to meet their parents) in the grocery store, at Chick-fil-a nights for the school, at the park and all over town. 

Mike - That would be John Burroughs...  He is pictured with Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.  Hank and Tom to their friends...  ;^ )

Dec 26, 2010 04:45 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Lane,

Congratulations/ This post is now featured on "Celebrating Free Enterprise." :)

Steve

Dec 27, 2010 02:10 AM