Jane O’Donoghue of Westfield. (Photo submitted)
HOLYOKE – On Friday, Junior Achievement held their 3rd annual Horace A. Moses Legacy Breakfast and began their year-long celebration of Junior Achievement’s 95th Anniversary. JA was founded in 1919 in Springfield by Horace Moses, Theodore Vail, and Sen. Murray Crane. JA’s goal has remained the same – to inspire and prepare youth to succeed in life and own their economic future. JA programs center around financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness.
Guests were invited to learn more about Junior Achievement and their efforts to make a difference in the lives of today’s youth, as well as to enjoy a breakfast buffet. Funds raised at the event will support JA programs in western Massachusetts.
There were over 100 attendees at the breakfast, including two very special guests: cousins Jane O’Donoghue and Andrea Lanzillo, who have a special connection to JA. Their uncle, Thomas J. Morrison, was the first JA advisor in 1920. Morrison dedicated over 30 years in support of JA as a JA advisor and a member of the local and national JA boards. Andrea Lanzillo’s father, Charles, was Thomas Morrison’s youngest brother, and one of the first JA students. He became a lieutenant in the Springfield Fire Dept., and gave his life fighting a fire in East Forest Park. JA was proud to share their efforts of continuing the work of these two influential men.
Andrea Lanzillo from Springfield. (Photo submitted)
Several current students spoke about the impact JA has had on them. Among them were Pierre Joseph, a junior at Amherst College and JA alumni; Andrew Rivers, an eight-grader at St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Springfield; and Deanna Gordon and Jessika Lazala, seniors at the High School of Commerce in Springfield and President and Vice President of Junior Achievement Young Entrepreneurs, respectively.
“Being a part of JA not only helped me grow as a person, but it has opened doors for me in other areas of my life,” Gordon said.
“JA helped me develop networking skills, provided an internship opportunity, helped me decide a career path, and taught me how to manage my money,” said Lazala. “JA programs help us make sense of what we are learning in school, and empower us to own our future.”
Chairman Thom Fox also shared his story of personal struggle and how JA helped him turn his life around to become the successful businessman that he is today. He spoke about the impact JA has on the community.
“Not only does Junior Achievement prepare students for the workforce, or give them insight to manage their finances, or introduces them to the world of entrepreneurship,” said Fox. “JA connects caring adults with young people who need someone to believe in them.”
Last year, Junior Achievement served over 9,300 students in 62 schools, in 29 school districts. Junior Achievement looks forward to serving even more students in the future and providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills to grow into successful, hardworking adults.
For more information about JA please visit www.jawm.org or call (413) 747-7670.
