During the 2025 spring semester, nearly 30 employees from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) volunteered at JA BizTown, a Junior Achievement (JA) initiative designed to teach financial literacy through career-oriented simulations. The event took place at JA’s experiential learning lab located in South Fayette Township in southwestern Pennsylvania and drew students from nearby Rostraver Elementary.
“FHLBank helped give students the chance to step into roles at mock versions of real regional businesses and face the kinds of decisions adults make every day as consumers and professionals,” said Nicole Beattie, Partnership Development Manager at JA. “JA BizTown reflects the wide range of industries that power our local economy and allows students to explore the many career paths available right here in our region.”
The immersive experience allowed the students to understand the importance of financial literacy and the inner workings of various industries and community. The volunteers' involvement not only helped the event run smoothly, but also gave students a window into available career options.
“FHLBank employees had a great time guiding the students through their businesses, and supported hands-on experiences and insights into different career paths,” said Nisha Puthur, on behalf of FHLBank’s JA coordinators, who also include Jim Loutzenhiser, Eric Slomer and Phil Woods. “The event’s success was clear, not only in the enthusiasm of the students and FHLBank volunteers, but also the genuine connection to our region’s businesses and community. We’re looking forward to future engagements.”
Photos from the event can be viewed on FHLBank’s LinkedIn page. FHLBank plans to have additional JA volunteer opportunities. More information about JA can be found on their website at jawesternpa.org.
