Toyota is well-recognized for its commitment to educating future generations. In fact, the Toyota USA Foundation has endowed $100 million to enhance the quality of U.S. education by supporting innovative programs dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and math.
In 2015, Toyota and the Denver Toyota Dealers Association added Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain (JA) to its list of education partners in Colorado, making a three-year funding commitment to support JA Finance Park.
The six dealerships of the Denver Toyota Dealers Association sponsor the “Transportation Store” at JA Finance Park, a program that helps students build a foundation for making intelligent personal financial decisions through a realistic hands-on simulation experience.
At JA Finance Park, middle and high school students take on the identity – and financial responsibilities – of an adult for a day. A student may manage the finances of a single mom with two children, struggling to make it from one paycheck to the next. Or, a student might take on the identity of a single man or woman with a high-paying job, expensive hobbies, and a whole lot of disposable income. And, yet another student may assume the role of a middle-aged married person with a spouse, two teenagers and a fair amount of debt. Whatever the scenario, students make decisions about everything from housing, utilities and health care, to food, transportation, child care, savings, investments and philanthropy. JA Finance Park teaches young people the ins and outs of personal budgeting and money management, and many students say that they remember what they’ve learned long after their visit.
“JA Finance Park is the perfect program for middle school students,” said a teacher from Aurora Public Schools. “It is extremely eye opening for students to see how far a well-budgeted paycheck can go, and how quickly it can disappear without careful planning.”
A high school teacher from Denver Public Schools adds, “Going to JA Finance Park is such a fun learning experience for our kids. It’s one of the few times during the school year that we see 100 percent engagement from students. They love it!”
Thanks to Toyota’s generosity, and the support of other corporate partners, 20,200 Colorado students and their teachers were able to attend JA Finance Park at no cost during the 2015/16 school year. That’s pretty impressive!
“We are so pleased to have our Hometown Toyota Stores as a collective JA Finance Park sponsor,” said JA Executive Vice President Kristi Shaffer. “Most of us learn how to manage our finances by making mistakes. JA Finance Park gives teenagers the opportunity to learn how to live within a budget before they make mistakes that can take decades to overcome.”
For more information about your six Hometown Toyota Stores, please visit:
AutoNation Toyota Arapahoe
10531 E. Arapahoe Rd.
Centennial, CO 80112
Groove Toyota
5460 S. Broadway
Englewood, CO 80113
Larry H. Miller Boulder Toyota
2465 48th Ct.
Boulder, CO 80301
Mountain States Toyota
201 W. 70th Ave.
Denver, CO 80221
Stevinson Toyota East
444 S. Havana St.
Aurora, CO 80012
Stevinson Toyota West
780 Indiana St.
Lakewood, CO 80401
