More than 100 McLean- and Washington, D.C.-based KPMG employees and their families bowled at Bowl America Falls Church on Wednesday, April 24 and Saturday, April 27, as part of Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater Washington’s annual JA Bowl.
Since 2008, KPMG has served as the title sponsor of the “fun with a purpose” fundraiser, whose proceeds benefit JA financial literacy programs for middle and elementary school children throughout the greater Washington metro area.
From October to June each year, dozens of area companies and thousands of bowlers participate in the Junior Achievement of Greater Washington event. During last year’s JA Bowl season, three dozen companies and over 2,000 bowlers raised more than $430,000. Including the more than $48,000 in contributions this year, KPMG alone has raised more than $440,000 since first participating in the bowl-a-thon in 1995.
Fairfax is home to Junior Achievement Finance Park, a 20,000-sq.-ft. experiential financial learning center that opened in 2010 on the Frost-Woodson Campus. Each year, more than 14,000 middle school students immerse themselves in reality-based decision-making addressing aspects of individual and family budgeting including housing, transportation, food, utilities, health care, investments, philanthropy and banking. The students visit the high-tech, high-touch center after four weeks of classroom curriculum. Two additional weeks of classroom instruction follow their Finance Park visit, during which students use their new financial knowledge to explore career option and set future goals. (The center was built and the ongoing instruction with the students is done with the continued involvement and support of the business community and in concert with Fairfax County Public Schools.)
Companies and individuals interested in participating in or supporting this year’s JA Bowl can visit www. jabowl.org. The 2013-2014 JA Bowl season will get underway in October.