America’s Car-Mart and Junior Achievement Help Kids Learn Financial Literacy

Author: Tonya Villines
Corporate Responsibility
Published: Tuesday, 11 Apr 2023

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Image caption: Barry Baggett and Tonya Villines

Car-Mart volunteers will teach JA Our City to third graders at Woodrow Cummins Elementary School, Conway. This program introduces students to financial literacy and grade-level social studies learning objectives, including how people manage their money and the importance of economic exchange within a city.

In fact, Junior Achievement (JA) exists to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Their three main pillars are entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work/career readiness.

“It’s our responsibility as a community to build financial wellness at an early stage,” says Tonya Villines, President, Junior Achievement of Arkansas. “Financial literacy is so important, especially right now. So many families are struggling. It’s a real issue.”

“It’s a great partnership for us at Car-Mart. Financial literacy is an important topic no matter your age,” says Vickie Judy, Chief Financial Officer, America’s Car-Mart, Inc. “JA is focused on ensuring all kids have a solid foundation of money management and more. At Car-Mart, we’re focused on the financial success of our own customers and improving the communities they live and work in.”

“We are preparing students for their future jobs and personal lives,” Tonya adds. “We are building a financial foundation, and we’re focused on workforce readiness. We have to prepare our youth to be able to compete in a global economy. We want to make the workforce stronger. We’re building the future workforce for Car-Mart and other companies.”

Serving as a volunteer teacher is fun, according to Barry Baggett, Senior Marketing Manager, Car-Mart. “Kids really connect with how much things cost,” Barry says. “They want to learn more about how the world works, and Junior Achievement provides engaging content at their grade level. We help them make informed decisions in their lives so they can position themselves for success.”

Click here to read the full America's Car-Mart Blog:
https://www.car-mart.com/blog/preparing-the-future-workforce/