After many months of delays due to the City permitting process, we are very excited to tell you that in January 2007, JASoCal broke ground on its exciting new experiential learning facility: JA's Finance Park. This dynamic new facility, which will start a pilot season this summer, gives secondary school students hands-on personal finance lessons, both through a comprehensive in-class curriculum and a culminating day at the Finance Park site.

Through this program students learn how to develop a household budget, and about such important financial concepts as taxes, investing, and credit. These students' chance to "be an adult for the day" has them preparing a family budget by visiting a series of shops that represent typical household expenses (housing, insurance, transportation, etc.). Here at these shops students interact with program volunteers and learn the difference between wants vs. needs, and the hard choices that all families must make in the course of their daily lives.

Based on a successful program that is already
operating in several states, our Finance Park will be the first of its kind in California. It has been made
possible by generous donations from corporations, individuals and foundations. While we have had some early success in generating excitement for the project within the philanthropic community, fundraising is ongoing--with a variety of naming opportunities available.

Inquiries regarding donations to Finance Park and upcoming volunteer opportunities can be directed to the JA Southern California office at financepark@jasocal.org.