TULSA — Junior Achievement of Oklahoma celebrated another successful year of its JA BizTown Salvation Army Bell Ringing event, according to Brian Jackson the senior donor relations manager for Junior Achievement of Oklahoma. Fifth-grade students from Pratt Elementary and Owasso Prep participated in the organization’s fifth annual fundraiser.
During their visit to JA BizTown, students spent the day running the simulated town, working jobs, earning paychecks, paying bills, and collaborating with classmates to keep businesses and services operating. In addition to learning practical financial skills, students received hands-on lessons in philanthropy.
“Our youthful citizens were very giving and instead of buying extra toys on their breaks they donated $73.25 — double what was collected last year — in the famous Salvation Army Red ‘JA BizTown Sized’ Kettle,” said Jackson.
He further noted that the donated BizTown currency will be matched and converted into U.S. currency by the Junior Achievement BizTown team.
The event was supported by several community leaders, including Sand Springs Mayor Jim Spoon, Quinton Gray, Tulsa Field Representative for U.S. Senator James Lankford, and Major Durant of the Sand Springs Salvation Army who encouraged and recognized the students’ efforts during the event.
Junior Achievement is currently celebrating the 23rd anniversary of its JA BizTown elementary program. Jackson relayed during the current school year approximately 13,000 upper elementary students across Tulsa and Oklahoma will participate in JA BizTown — gaining real-world experience in financial literacy, teamwork, and civic responsibility. Since its inception, the program has served more than 200,000 students statewide, meaning one out of every twenty Oklahoma students has taken part in the JA BizTown experience.