At nVent, supporting our communities is part of our culture and values. Through the nVent Foundation and our broader nVent in Action program, we empower our employees to give to the causes they care about. As part of Global Volunteerism Month in May, we will be spotlighting some of our community partners; the first organization we are spotlighting is Junior Achievement North (JA). nVent has been partnering with JA since our inception in 2018.
JA envisions a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. JA programs align to three pathways: Financial Literacy, Career Readiness and Entrepreneurship. Through a continuum of experiential learning opportunities, JA helps K-12 students acquire competencies needed to reach their full potential. While it works with students of all backgrounds, JA is committed to serving students from systemically excluded communities, including youth of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
JA was founded in the Twin Cities area in 1949 as Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest. JA serves all of Minnesota and North Dakota and some of Western Wisconsin. During the 2023-2024 school year, Junior Achievement North served over 100,000 students across our region.
nVent's partnership supports programs such as JA in a Day, JA BizTown, JA Finance Park and JA Career Speaker Series. Our annual bigBowl event raises more than $3,000 each year. These events are great opportunities for nVent to raise money for a fantastic organization while also providing the opportunity to connect and engage with nVent coworkers. nVent’s grant funding of $15,000 ensures that JA programs can be provided to students at little to no cost. Our support provides hands-on programming, mentorship, and learning opportunities for local schools and students.
“nVent’s support provides mentorship, encouragement, and opportunities for students to benefit from Junior Achievement North’s programs.” said Sara Dziuk, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for their partnership as we work together to prepare young people with the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities.”
JA uses a pathways approach to deliver its learning experiences. JA lessons are designed to engage students on a subject over multiple grades, preparing students for the transition to continued education, work and adulthood. The JA Pathways approach is implemented with a volunteer-delivered curriculum, aligned with state and national education standards. JA volunteers, who provide programming directly to students, are community and business leaders who serve as role models to help students envision a successful future.
“nVent employees have the opportunity to grow closer by spending time volunteering and fundraising for JA North.” said Caleb Benz, FP&A Manager at nVent. “Our volunteers engage with students in a meaningful way by encouraging them to explore their academic and career interests.”
"We are passionate about supporting quality education opportunities for youth in our communities.” said Laura Brock, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. “Partnering with Junior Achievement is one of the favorite activities of our Employee Resource Groups—whether it's working in Biz Town or fundraising for the JA bigBowl, our employees understand the impact hands-on involvement with our community partners has on building future leaders.”
nVent is proud to be a longstanding partner of JA North. We celebrate and support nVent employees worldwide as they make communities stronger by sharing their time, talents and resources with those in need.