WELCOME
BOARD CHAIR MESSAGE FROM RICHARD J. POCCIA
First, on behalf of the entire Junior Achievement of New York community, let me thank and acknowledge the outstanding efforts of Anré Williams, who served as board chair from 2007 - 2011. During these past years, he has provided extraordinary leadership and dedication to Junior Achievement of New York and we extend a special and very heartfelt thank you.
Most recently, Anré was chosen from 171,000 U.S. volunteers to win JA USA's highest award for volunteerism, the Junior Achievement USA Gold Leadership Award. He was honored, along with several other business leaders and professionals across the country, in recognition of his leadership in supporting and expanding JA's student impact, resources, operational excellence and sustainability. I think we can all agree that Anré has raised the bar for what it means to lead with vision, purpose and accountability.
As I take on the responsibility to fill Anré's shoes as Board Chair, I am excited and energized by the opportunity to work and collaborate with the JA New York community. These are exciting times to be working with young people. The challenges facing them are daunting, but the opportunities for them are even greater. It is our abiding belief in those opportunities that motivates us to do our work.
We are strengthened and encouraged by the amazing partnerships represented in this annual report: our volunteers, who take time from their own busy lives to teach in classrooms and welcome students into their offices; our schools, who welcome us in and make time, amidst the pressures of test taking and curriculum requirements, for an enrichment program they understand as vital to their students' ultimate success; the Board of Directors and Associate Board members and their companies who provide guidance and resources to keep the organization strong and on track for growth; the innovative and inspirational JA New York employees who work tirelessly to implement the JA mission; and of course our funders whose support makes possible the free programming we provide. This community of partners is extraordinary in its scope, talents, and reach; and together we are having a measurable impact on the next generation of America's citizens and workforce.
I invite you to explore this year's annual report, delivered in a new format to take maximum advantage of all that today's technology makes possible. This year's theme, impact, is about just that: how do we impact the future? How do we make the biggest impact with the resources available to us? In other words, how do we do all that we can to ensure our junior achievers develop into successful, productive citizens and contributors to our global economy?
Thank you all for everything you have helped us do this past year. We look forward to your continued commitment to, and support of, Junior Achievement of New York.
Richard J. Poccia
Chair, Junior Achievement of New York Board of Directors
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP