One of the most popular and most profitable businesses in AmeriTowne is the Snack Shop. Inside, AmeriTowne citizens gather at the counter enjoy tasty treats with friends while Snack Shop Cashiers busily serve their customers. Thanks to Ronald McDonald House® Charities of Denver, students gain valuable real life experience in sales and customer service while working in the Snack Shop. …
Tales from Towne: Goals
Before visiting AmeriTowne, students meet in business groups at school. In addition to determining a shop advertising strategy, students set business goals. When they arrive at AmeriTowne, our staff members display these goals as a helpful reminder. Most days the goals are very similar. For example, the phrases “Earn a profit for our business after we repay the bank loan” …
Sponsor Spotlight: Schomp encourages workforce readiness in the Parts and Service Shop
How many adults can say that they interviewed for their first job at age 10? That’s part of the Young AmeriTowne real-world experience proud partner Schomp Automotive has made possible. Young AmeriTowne introduces 5th graders to a wide range of careers open to them including good paying jobs that require advance training but not a college education, such as an …
Sponsor Spotlight: Alameda Gateway Helps Create a Caring Community
Think about it…How can you create a caring community? Alameda Gateway challenges students to answer this question when they visit the Young AmeriTowne TV Station at Belmar. Watch to see how a recent AmeriTowne citizen responded! About Alameda Gateway A nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality of the Alameda corridor in Lakewood, Alameda Gateway promotes the health, safety, …
Spotlight on Board Member Chris Picardi
When it comes to community involvement, Young Americans Center Board Member Chris Picardi is passionate about financial literacy and helping break the cycle of poverty. He pours his heart, money and free time into a very important cause: helping underserved youth gain financial literacy so they learn how to earn, make and manage money wisely. An AmeriTowne alum, Chris attributes his current …
Sponsor Spotlight: Cambiar Teaches 5th Graders How to Invest
Spend, save, share and INVEST wisely. These are the money lessons 30,500 5th graders “learn by doing” each year at Young AmeriTowne. Thanks to our partners at Cambiar Investors, Young AmeriTowne graduates may know more about this complex aspect of finance than many adults. Volunteers from Cambiar Investors, a Colorado-based equity manager and 10-year partner of Young Americans Center, helped …
CoBank sends AmeriTowne to Colorado’s far corners
In early 2015, Erika,* a Pueblo-area 5th grader, awoke to over a foot of snow outside her home. She ran downstairs to confirm—her school was closed due to the weather. She immediately burst into tears. You might think this is an odd reaction for a 5th grader, until you learn that Erika’s school was scheduled to visit Young AmeriTowne On …
Sponsor Spotlight: FirstBank Commits to Financial Literacy
Two thirds of Americans can’t pass a basic financial literacy test, according to a 2016 study reported by Fortune. Two thirds—that’s more than 200 million people! Young Americans Center for Financial Education is working to change this gloomy statistic, and for the past 22 years, FirstBank has been a valuable partner in this work. FirstBank of South Jeffco first sponsored …
Sponsor Spotlight: Janus Invests in the Future
Sponsor Spotlight: Janus Invests in the Future At Young Americans, we believe that the best learning occurs when students get to participate—whether it’s opening their own bank account in the Young Americans Bank or running their own shop in Young AmeriTowne. This mission fits in perfectly with Janus Capital Group, a supporter of our programs for the last 16 years. …
Tales from Towne – A Teacher’s Story
We recently received this note from a teacher, which illustrates the power of the Young AmeriTowne program: We had a student from a rough background. His life goal was to move to New York and live as a homeless man under a bridge (honest!). [At AmeriTowne] he learned how to fill out a job application, gave an awesome interview, and was Employee …
