Toronto Youth Receive $250,000 for Financial Literacy from TELUS

TORONTO, ON– On Wednesday, November 30, as part of Financial Literacy Month, volunteers from TELUS were in classrooms across the GTA to deliver two of Junior Achievement of Canada’s (JA Canada) powerful finance programs to grade 7 and 8 students. Representatives from Junior Achievement of Canada (JACAN) and Junior Achievement of Central Ontario (JACO) were also in attendance at Canadian Martyr's Separate School in Toronto, to accept a significant donation from TELUS, in the amount of $250,000 - the single largest corporate donation ever recorded by JACO.

"I am extremely pleased we achieved our goal of raising $250,000. TELUS’ gift will help build the next generation of entrepreneurial spirit and leadership in Toronto through Junior Achievement – an organization renowned for developing future entrepreneurs,” said Jim Senko, Vice-President of Small and Medium Business Marketing at TELUS. “TELUS supports small-and-medium-sized businesses in all their wireless needs and, in turn, these businesses are helping to provide Toronto youth with the education and funding they require to become our future business leaders.”

Designed to further realize the unlimited potential of youth, TELUS’ $250,000 donation was raised through a smartphone campaign that earmarked $50 to JA Canada for every smartphone activation by a Toronto-based business*. Funds raised are in support of two key JA Canada programs that will positively impact more than 4,500 students across the GTA. The programs include Dollars with Sense, an age-appropriate introduction to personal finance that helps students understand how to plan for their financial futures, and Economics for Success, a course that inspires students to recognize the positive correlation between staying in school and achieving their dreams.

"Junior Achievement is about youth, as represented by the students who are here in this classroom with us today," said Stephen Ashworth, Senior Vice President, Operations and Education, JA Canada. "We value our meaningful relationship with TELUS, not only for their financial leadership, of which we are extremely grateful, but for their ongoing commitment to mentorship, as evident by their active participation today, in schools across the GTA, and in the lives of youth across much of the country.”

It is not by chance that TELUS represents a link between business education and technology. The TELUS initiative comes at time when JA Canada will look to expand its traditional classroom delivery model into the digital learning space, offering a world of limitless possibilities for JA in Canada and its ability to positively impact youth.

The event also drew to a successful close the first ever Financial Literacy Month in Canada. Last year, over 216,000 students, in more than 400 communities across the country, benefited from our programs including those dedicated to financial literacy. Economics for Success and Dollars with Sense, reached over 93 and 33 thousand students respectively.

"What's important to note here is that the need for financial Literacy awareness and education across Canada did not end on November 30th," said Ashworth."Financial literacy means having the knowledge, skills and confidence to make responsible financial decisions. The process starts early, in classrooms just like this one, and is ongoing throughout life.”