BETTENDORF, IA (September 27, 2019) — In celebration of Junior Achievement’s 100-year anniversary and the opening of Ascentra Credit Union’s new home office in downtown Bettendorf, Iowa, the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has contributed a $100,000 grant to Junior Achievement of the Heartland to help youth better understand financial concepts and gain confidence in the ability to manage their financial future. The grant will be distributed over a five-year period with support continuing through 2023-2024.

“The mission of Junior Achievement is directly aligned with Ascentra and the credit union’s philosophy,” said Dale Owen, President and CEO of Ascentra Credit Union. “Just as we have invested in our organization, we are continuing to invest in the young people of our region and their future.”

Junior Achievement of the Heartland offers financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs to students in grades K-12 helping them learn important skills like creating a budget, becoming work ready and developing a business plan. The majority of these core-mission programs are offered to schools at no cost.

The foundation’s contribution will ensure continued support in helping students gain the knowledge and skills they need to make smart academic and economic choices.

“We are grateful for the significant partnership the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation is providing to benefit more students with JA’s proven programs,” said Dougal Nelson, President and CEO, JA of the Heartland. “It is vital, we as a community, help our youth better understand financial concepts and gain confidence in their ability to manage their financial future.  The foundation’s partnership demonstrates their dedication to our community in helping prepare our youth for their economic success.”

In addition, Ascentra’s employees will continue to serve as JA classroom volunteers and participate in other special events, such as the JA Bowl-A-Thon and the JA Titan Competition.

Photo: The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation presented a donation to Junior Achievement of the Heartland for $100,000 at a special celebration for the credit union’s new home office. In the center, Dougal Nelson, JA of the Heartland President and CEO, accepts the donation alongside Ascentra President and CEO Dale Owen, Ascentra Board Chair Larry Ridenour, and longtime employee and JA classroom volunteer Kathy O’Haver, while surrounded by staff and board members of JA of the Heartland.

About The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation:

Established in 2014, The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Ascentra Credit Union with a mission to improve the quality of life for the membership of the credit union and further the philanthropic outreach in the communities it serves.

The focus of the foundation is on funding the charitable and educational objectives of the credit union board of directors including work to enhance youth development, expand credit education opportunities, foster community development, support cultural activities, and invest in ways to enhance the financial viability of the underserved.  More information can be found at ascentra.org/foundation.

About Junior Achievement

JA is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.

Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and Grant County in Wisconsin. More than 52,000 kindergarten through high school students benefit from JA programs each year. Visit www.jaheartland.org for more information.

JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.8 million students per year in 106 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.