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Junior Achievement of Arkansas and America’s Car-Mart Partner to Build Brighter Futures

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — (April 10, 2023) Junior Achievement of Arkansas (JAARK) and America’s CarMart are collaborating to help young people take their first steps toward their careers and building a solid financial foundation that last a lifetime.

In fall 2022, Car-Mart associates facilitated JA All About Cars at Central Junior High in Springdale. The session introduced students to the essential costs related to buying and operating a first car and offered tips on being smart consumers when purchasing vehicles.

This spring, Car-Mart associates will return to Central Junior High School with JA All About Cars and also take the car-buying lesson to Conway High School in Conway. Additionally, in May, eight Car-Mart volunteers will teach JA Our City to third graders at Woodrow Cummins Elementary School, Conway. This program is about teaching financial basics, managing money, and the importance of economic exchange within a city.

Schools look to Junior Achievement to provide supplemental learning experiences that help young people develop the competence, confidence, and character to make smart life choices. JA programs align with common core state standards. JA’s unique delivery system provides the training, materials, and support necessary to ensure a positive experience.

In addition to volunteering in classrooms, Car-Mart will participate in various Junior Achievement fundraising events including NWA Super Hero Bowl-A-Thon, and Swing Fore JA Top Golf.

“We are thrilled to have Car-Mart volunteers investing in our future workforce and using their professional experiences and knowledge to teach our students about the economics of life,” said Tonya Villines, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Arkansas. “With the involvement of Car-Mart’s funding and volunteers, we can advance JA’s mission and reach far more underserved K-12 youths. At Junior Achievement, we are leveling the playing field by helping students gain critical life skills in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship.”

“At Car-Mart, we are always looking for meaningful ways to give back to our communities. And when it involves young people, we have a responsibility to help them thrive. It’s important to provide them with a window to the future and prepare them with tools to help them succeed,” said Vickie Judy, Chief Financial Officer.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with Junior Achievement and pay it forward to the next generation,” Ms. Judy continued. “JA’s focus on real-life learning and financial literacy goes a long way in showing students the realities of adulthood. We believe money management is one of the keys to empowerment and prosperous
lives.”

About Junior Achievement of Arkansas
Junior Achievement is the state’s only 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. 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, JAARK reaches over 15,000 students per year across Arkansas.

For more information, visit www.arkansas.ja.org or follow the organization on Facebook at
JuniorAchievementArkansas and on Twitter at JAArkansas.


About America’s Car-Mart
America’s Car-Mart operates automotive dealerships in twelve states and is one of the largest publicly held automotive retailers in the United States focused exclusively on the “Integrated Auto Sales and Finance” segment of the used car market. The Company specializes in the sale of quality, pre-owned vehicles, and features flexible used car financing options for customers with  bad credit, no credit, repossessions, or evenpast bankruptcy and emphasizes superior customer service and the building of strong personal relationships with its customers. The Company operates its dealerships primarily in smaller cities throughout the SouthCentral United States selling quality used vehicles and providing financing for substantially all of its customers.
For more information about America’s Car-Mart, including investor presentations, please visit our website at www.car-mart.com.

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Media Contacts:

Tonya Villines
JA of Arkansas
tvillines@jaark.org

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