Church & Dwight Philanthropic Foundation Partners with Junior Achievement on Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

November 4, 2021

Junior Achievement of Oregon and SW Washington (JA) received a $35,000 grant from the Church & Dwight Philanthropic Foundation in support of JA programming and JA’s Equitable Education Initiative during the 2021-22 school year. The Foundation will be recognized as a Diversity and Inclusion Partner for its incredible commitment to advancing equitable financial literacy and career education. 

Junior Achievement serves priority youth throughout our region, with a focus on reaching students who are from low-income families, students in rural areas, young people of color, and historically and currently marginalized youth in high-needs schools. Support from partners helps the organization reach more students with authentic, hands-on learning resources. Funding from JA donors helps bolster inclusion and equity, and make it easier for new schools to participate.

As a new Diversity and Inclusion Partner to Junior Achievement, the Foundation’s grant is helping to inspire and prepare more young people in underserved communities with critical personal finance and work readiness skills. Locally, Church & Dwight is actively involved in plans to bring volunteers to support JA program expansion in the SW Washington area.

“After what has been a challenging and often disheartening year, it has been a delight to see the good that Junior Achievement is doing in our community. In pursuit of a more equitable world, all children should be given the full breadth of education necessary to succeed; Junior Achievement’s work to bridge gaps in financial literacy and civic engagement can only result in a more just world for all. We are looking forward to a continued relationship between Church & Dwight and Junior Achievement and especially to future opportunities for employee volunteering,” said Tobi Kushner, SR. Chemist and D&I team representative of Church & Dwight.

"Church & Dwight’s partnership will help equip underserved youth with those critical life skills like financial literacy and career readiness," said Ryan Deckert, President of Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington. "Kids and teens need financial literacy now more than ever, especially in hard-hit communities."

Thanks to supporters like Church & Dwight, Junior Achievement has continued to expand outreach of our engaging, turnkey programs that prepare youth for managing money, exploring careers, entrepreneurship, critical thinking and more, all compatible with virtual, hybrid and in-person learning environments. This new grant from the Foundation will help provide JA programs to hundreds of SW Washington students, delivering learning experiences that develop career skills, create financially literate citizens and promote graduation as a pathway to life and career success.

About Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington

Junior Achievement of Oregon and SW Washington (JA) inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy through volunteer-delivered, experiential programs for K-12 students that promote work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Established locally in 1950, JA is an affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, which has worked for over a century to empower young people to own their economic success. Visit www.jaorswwa.org for more information.

About Church & Dwight

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE: CHD), founded in 1846, is the leading U.S. producer of sodium bicarbonate, popularly known as baking soda. The Company manufactures and markets a wide range of personal care, household, and specialty products under recognized brand names such as ARM & HAMMER®, TROJAN®, OXICLEAN®, SPINBRUSH®, FIRST RESPONSE®, NAIR®, ORAJEL®, XTRA®, L’IL CRITTERS® and VITAFUSION®, BATISTE®, WATERPIK®, FLAWLESS® and ZICAM®. These thirteen key brands represent approximately 80% of the Company’s products sales. For more information, visit the Company’s website.

About Church & Dwight Philanthropic Foundation, Inc.

The Church & Dwight Philanthropic Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) promotes environmental health, diversity, inclusion and other charitable causes by making grants to (i) section 501(c)(3) public charities and other charitable organizations for such purposes, and (ii) individuals for tuition and other educational expenses.