Friday, July 18, 2025
People develop financial habits earlier than you’d think – which is why First Merchants believes that early education on budgeting, saving, and money management is vital to the success of our communities.
We’re proud to partner with Junior Achievement – the nation’s largest organization dedicated to educating youth on financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship – across our service area in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio . Through Junior Achievement, First Merchants team members volunteer to teach classrooms about careers and financial skills, help them navigate work skills in BizTown – a community model where students step into the roles of business leaders – and more.
“First Merchants’ passion and volunteerism played a vital role in shaping the future of so many students,” Junior Achievement of Central Indiana wrote in a recent social media post. “By guiding them through real-world business experiences, you've not only provided them with essential life skills but also inspired them to dream big and reach for the stars.”
Through this partnership, First Merchants encourages employees to volunteer with Junior Achievement as individuals and sponsors large-scale team volunteer events throughout the year. In 2024, First Merchants team members have volunteered nearly 1,000 hours with Junior Achievement chapters across our footprint to date.
Jody Shonk, Executive Administrative Specialist with First Merchants Bank, has been volunteering regularly with Junior Achievement for years and serves on the Junior Achievement Committee Group in Columbus, Ohio.
“Junior Achievement’s mission is one I believe in. For many children, this is their first financial literacy introduction. I have seen the children still talk about their Junior Achievement experience years later. We have volunteers in Columbus who volunteer with Junior Achievement over and over because it is such a rewarding experience.”
Several of our team members remember their own experiences with Junior Achievement and say that it has inspired them to make a difference in the lives of current students.
“I remember attending Junior Achievement’s BizTown when I was in fifth grade, and I had an incredible experience,” Chelsea Hanni, Executive Administrative Specialist with First Merchants, said. “When I saw the opportunity to volunteer, I wanted to help other students have a great experience, just like I had.”
While volunteering at BizTown, Chelsea said she was inspired by the excitement she saw and could tell the children were dreaming about what could be.
“It was awesome to see the students come in ecstatic about spending the day in the role of a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or other executive, and it was so fulfilling to get to help them through real-world day-to-day business operations,” she said. “I could see them getting out of their comfort zone and embracing leadership when they had to speak in front of the town or give directions to their peers. The way they can earn and spend money in BizTown also gave them a sense of independence and work ethic.”
Junior Achievement has been serving students since 1915 in its mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy, and, for some First Merchants team members, that long legacy means that Junior Achievement is now a generational tradition.
Nancy Liss, Administrative Specialist with First Merchants, first encountered Junior Achievement decades ago, as a high school sophomore. Later, Nancy’s daughters had their own experiences – which Nancy joined as a volunteer. Now, Nancy’s oldest daughter is a teacher guiding her students through Junior Achievement.
“I was thrilled when I found out the First Merchants was involved with Junior Achievement,” Nancy explained. “It brought back memories of my time, as well as my daughters’ experiences, in the program. I think, for students, Junior Achievement is the chance to do something different from their usual school day and be exposed to jobs and activities that they might never encounter otherwise. Volunteering with them, now, is a way for me to represent First Merchants in the community, and I am excited about it.”
Programs like Junior Achievement help students practice real-world skills that will help them manage their finances effectively in the future. This, in turn, sets them up for success and stability throughout their lives. Research done on behalf of the organization indicates that Junior Achievement alums are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.
“It is so important for today’s young people to learn about financial literacy as well as life outside of school so that they have an idea of what they can do,” Nancy said. “This should include experiences they would not normally get during the school day. Junior Achievement’s programs, like BizTown, are a way for this to happen. However, organizations like Junior Achievement need volunteers to make programs like this happen, and that’s where we come in.”
First Merchants looks forward to strengthening our partnership with Junior Achievement through increased volunteer activity, new opportunities, and continued financial education for students.
Learn more about our dedication to communities and how our teammates spring into action to help those around them prosper.
