4.19.21
The Structured Finance Association (SFA) announced it has established a partnership with Junior Achievement USA (JA) as part of its Women in Securitization (WiS) initiative to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the securitization industry. Through an initial $57,500 grant, SFA will work with JA to launch a program that will create opportunities for high school-aged girls to gain financial literacy and prepare for successful careers, while also encouraging SFA members to engage directly with aspiring young women at SFA-hosted events and through other volunteer opportunities.
“As our WiS community outreach committee began researching organizations that fit our mission, we found a natural alignment with Junior Achievement,” said Covell Adams, chief operating officer at the Structured Finance Association. “We believe it is vitally important to instill a connection between our members and the young women they are serving, and JA boasts a 99% recommendation rate from its current and past volunteers. I am grateful for the hard work of our WiS Community Outreach co-chairs – Reed Auerbach from Morgan Lewis, Angela Best from MetLife Investment Management, and Theresa Dooley from Bank of America – and know our team, member institutions, and JA are excited about the opportunity this partnership will provide to make a difference in the lives of young women who have an interest in finance.”
“Our research shows that Junior Achievement volunteers can have a life-changing impact on students,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. “This is especially true for the millions of young women who participate in JA learning experiences. We greatly appreciate the Structured Finance Association’s commitment to empowering young women through its Women in Securitization (WiS) initiative and are proud to partner in this critical endeavor.”
About the Structured Finance Association: With more than 370 member institutions comprised of accounting firms, broker/dealers, diversified financial intermediaries, investors, issuers, IT vendors, law firms, mortgage insurers, other small financial institutions, rating agencies, servicers and trustees, SFA is the leading voice for the securitization industry.
About SFA’s Women in Securitization Initiative: Founded in 2014, WiS focuses on the development, advancement, and retention of women in the securitization industry by providing educational content, professional resources, and an expansive platform to connect with advocates, both male and female, throughout the industry.
About Junior Achievement USA: 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 more than 3 million students per year in 105 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.
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