Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia received a grant from Rent-A-Center to support financial literacy programs for students in the Roanoke Valley. Here is a press release from JA:

Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia announced today that it has received a grant to provide local K-12 students with JA financial literacy programs in 2010, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Rent-A-Center (RAC). The $4,400 grant is one of 35 that RAC is awarding U.S. Junior Achievement operations this year to support the expansion and implementation of financial literacy education, a critical need for our nation’s economic growth, the community’s stability and the individual citizen’s success.

All JA programs implemented through Rent-A-Center grants are delivered in schools in which 51 percent of the student population qualifies for a free or reduced lunch program. The funding is part of a nationwide JA/Rent-A-Center initiative that includes an $800,000 grant dispersed over a four-year period. JA offices throughout the United States have the opportunity to apply for the annual funding.

“We are proud to support Junior Achievement in its efforts to educate and inspire young people to build personal success and independence through responsible financial decision-making,” says Mark Speese, Rent-A-Center chairman and CEO. “JA Worldwide has proven, age-appropriate programs that teach students about earning, budgeting, saving, spending and investing money. As students put these lessons into action, they learn the value of becoming contributing members of their communities.”

“Rent-A-Center’s support will play a major role in Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia accomplishing its outreach goals,” says local JA President Katherin Elam.  “With this funding, we will be better equipped to engage community volunteers to implement JA’s hands-on programs—and be more effective in providing students with the money-management skills they so desperately need in today’s ever-changing global economy.”