CenterPoint Energy Continues to be a Driving Force for Impact

Author: Courtney Azuike
Community Involvement
Published: Wednesday, 23 Jun 2021

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Image caption: Dedicated Volunteers from CenterPoint in Action

CenterPoint Energy has served as a dedicated partner to Junior Achievement by consistently going above and beyond the call of duty for over three decades. Whether it’s their significant volunteer efforts, helping with the development and piloting of new JA programs, funding key educational initiatives, or participating in special events - CenterPoint is always there to support JA! For the last several years, CenterPoint Energy has partnered with Fort Bend ISD to deliver JA programs during the district’s annual 8th Grade Career Days and they did not let the pandemic slow them down. In fact, CenterPoint enthusiastically agreed to pilot a virtual model of the program, JA Your Career, Your Future. The virtual format was a great success and received rave reviews from school district staff, students and volunteers. Billy Hill III, a volunteer with CenterPoint Energy, shared his thoughts on volunteering with Junior Achievement, “I have been doing JA for that last 6 years. I feel that it is very important for the students to hear and see adults that look like them and have similar backgrounds. I was very impressed with the way JA pivoted during the pandemic to ensure the students still received the same level of excitement and outside education. I will forever be a JA volunteer.”

During this school year CenterPoint volunteers have presented to students at Baines MS, Bowie MS, Crockett MS, Lake Olympia MS and Thornton MS through virtual models of JA Career Exploration Fair and JA Your Career, Your Future. These programs help students learn the importance of preparing for their future, and how they can start planning now by understanding the correlation between desired lifestyle choices to careers that allow them to finance that life. CenterPoint was instrumental in the local development of a kit-based version of JA Your Career, Your Future several years ago and has continued to champion the program by volunteering to deliver it regularly. Words cannot express our gratitude for such an innovative partner who truly believes in the JA mission to inspire and prepare students to succeed.

A special thank you to Janette Hammond for helping recruit amazing volunteers from CenterPoint to ensure the quality of JA programs are top notch. We greatly appreciate CenterPoint Energy’s dedication to making a difference in students’ lives and look forward to continuing our work together for many years to come!