JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, SPAHN & ROSE: HELPING TOMORROW’S ENTREPRENEURS TODAY

Some investments pay off through deposits in a bank or adjustments on a balance sheet. Spahn & Rose’s investment in Junior Achievement of the Heartland has paid off by directly helping more than 850 students in the tri-state area learn about financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.

Over the past decade, the Spahn & Rose Charitable Foundation has invested some $30,000 through sponsorships and donations to Junior Achievement of the Heartland.

“Without the support of Spahn & Rose, it would be hard to reach as many students as we do,” says Scott Ellerbach, Development Director for Junior Achievement of the Heartland. “When a company like Spahn & Rose supports students, it makes a big difference in their lives.”

Junior Achievement provides in-class and, now, remote learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Like Spahn & Rose, Junior Achievement is based in Dubuque, Iowa; it encompasses 24 counties in Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin and has been around for more than 100 years helping youngsters understand how to manage money. The Spahn & Rose Charitable Foundation was established in 1950 to support programs that provide services for higher education, healthy communities and at-risk youth.

Two years ago, the Junior Achievement program had about 51,000 participating students. This year, while contending with the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization instituted remote programs and served about 30,000 students.

A nonprofit organization, Junior Achievement of the Heartland offers its programs at no cost to schools. Before the pandemic, Junior Achievement volunteers would go into classrooms to explain the curriculum and provide firsthand examples of successful businesspeople. In previous years, some Spahn & Rose employees have been volunteers. Typical Junior Achievement programs last five to seven weeks.

“We are beyond thrilled and thankful every year for the support of Spahn & Rose,” Ellerbach says. “The money Spahn & Rose donates has gone toward our core mission programs and the kits and workbooks students use in the classrooms or online. With the support of Spahn & Rose, we help empower kids to own their economic success.”