Junior Achievement looking for donors

Junior Achievement is a program that uses community volunteers to teach elementary students about career choices, how businesses run and how the economy works. Provided at no cost to schools, JA's expenses for materials are covered by donations.

In the three years that JA has been active in Cape Girardeau County schools, some 2,800 students have participated. Teachers are enthusiastic about the hands-on approach. And volunteers have been willing to provide real-life experience.

But local funding hasn't materialized. So far, the funding -- it will take $13,000 for the coming school year -- has been provided by the JA program in St. Louis. But hard economic times for the state mean that funding won't be available this year.

Unless local donors are willing to step in and help, the program will end in Cape Girardeau County. The money has to be in place no later than Sept. 1.

Anyone interested in providing financial assistance for Junior Achievement is encouraged to call the program's office at 800-342-7119.