Volunteer Spotlight – Matt Schwartz
Author: Ed Grocholski
Community Involvement
Published:
Monday, 26 Apr 2021
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Matt Schwartz
Image caption: Matt Schwartz
"Lightbulbs go on for the students as they learn about financial literacy including budgeting, financial management, and careers. By teaching financial literacy, Junior Achievement opens students’ eyes to the possibilities ahead of them."
Matt Schwartz, Advisory Delivery Enablement Leader for KPMG, has volunteered approximately 15 times for a variety of Junior Achievement programs. His experiences have helped prepare him for his role as KPMG JA Network Leader, coordinating more than 80 KPMG professionals serving on JA boards and committees around the country and approximately 1,000 KPMG professionals who volunteer for JA each year. This commitment to JA has earned KPMG the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award for the seventh consecutive year.
"Volunteering is a team-building event for us," said Schwartz. "It’s rewarding to see how much the students look forward to having us in their classrooms and engaging in the JA Finance Park facilities."
Schwartz, who also sits on the board of JA of Greater Washington, believes JA experiences open students’ eyes to different career opportunities, income, loans, and spending decisions as they work in a mini economy. The programs spark their passion and interest in different jobs and shows them why different professions are important. Most of all, he says, "They get excited about the real world, what comes post-high school, their future, and the possibilities ahead."
"JA programs fit perfectly with KPMG’s commitment to lifelong learning," shares Schwartz. "My hope is that each student sees the potential they have and develops a support network of teachers, family, business professionals and others made available by JA to help them achieve those possibilities."
"For those considering volunteering with JA, there is a role for everyone – whether you volunteer to spend a full day with students or create a short video that can be used as part of the virtual curriculum," Schwartz commented. "It is incredibly rewarding to be able to engage with the students and see the excitement on their faces when the JA curriculum comes to life."
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