KPMG Supports Redevelopment Of Junior Achievement Curriculum To Increase Financial Literacy Among Students

NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, and Junior Achievement USA (JA) today introduced a redeveloped digital curriculum and accompanying technology for the JA Finance Park program, focused on increasing the financial literacy of middle and high school students.

The digital and paperless curriculum and custom software – made possible by a multi-year funding commitment from the KPMG Foundation – enables students to engage in real-world financial activities such as online banking and paying bills via tablet PCs, while being introduced to concepts like insurance, credit and long-term investments. The curriculum also supports real-world simulations through which students are assigned a salary, interact with merchants, and can make payments via issued debit cards.

"KPMG volunteers serve thousands of hours each year working with students through Junior Achievement's various programs. By supporting JA in the redevelopment of their curriculum, we can better prepare students for financial success through technology they've become accustomed to using on a daily basis," said Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, National Managing Partner for Diversity and Corporate Responsibility at KPMG. "Our relationship with JA is important and part of KPMG's strategy to support education from early childhood through the post-graduate level in order to help develop the diverse talent pool needed for tomorrow's workforce."

Watch a video about the new JA Finance Park program: http://youtu.be/TaPFDYRdSVY

Established in 2003, JA Finance Park is one of Junior Achievement's most successful programs, and more than 1 million students across the United States have gone through the hands-on program since it first began. The month-long economics education program introduces personal financial planning and career exploration to middle and high school students and is funded by the KPMG Foundation in collaboration with JA.

"The redevelopment of our curriculum was another milestone in our work with KPMG to equip students with the tools they need to ensure their future financial success," said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA. "We're grateful for KPMG's support and we're already seeing students better engaged with the JA Finance Park curriculum as a result of its new digital format and enhanced content."

Middle and high school students are more tech savvy than ever. In fact, 44 percent of Millennials look at their phones more than six times an hour. Incorporating technology into students' learning and absorption of materials through the redeveloped curriculum is intended to help them make better connections between what they learn in school and how to apply it in the real world.

About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 155,000 professionals, including more than 8,600 partners, in 155 countries.

About the KPMG Foundation
The KPMG Foundation (http://www.kpmgfoundation.org) is a 501(c)(3) private foundation. The Foundation operates on donations from KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm. For fiscal year 2014, KPMG donated over $6.2 million to the Foundation. Through the KPMG Foundation, the firm has spent over 45 years supporting and developing programs to enhance business education.

About Junior Achievement USA^® (JA)
Junior Achievement 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. 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 4.5 million students per year in 115 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.8 million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

Video - http://youtu.be/TaPFDYRdSVY

SOURCE KPMG LLP

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