,
| CHANGE
PHOENIX, Ariz., May 10, 2016 – Celebrating its 10th anniversary, AAA will honor 24 local high school students graduating from its AAA Cares program that is designed to prepare students for business careers.
Created in 2006, AAA Cares has graduated more than 200 students by offering a supportive environment to develop business proficiency. The 18-week program is run by AAA employee volunteers and provides training in interviewing and public speaking, working with business technologies, and learning basic business skills that will allow students to make valuable contributions on the job.
The AAA Cares graduation will take place on May 10, where students will receive laptops, graduation certificates and awards. Participating students receive school credit for completing the program and some are offered paid internships or employment at AAA.
“The mentors in the program benefit just as much as the students do as they get to experience how it feels to change someone’s life and help set them up for success down the road,” said Angie Jones, co-leader of the AAA Cares program. “It’s important to AAA to give back to the communities in which we live and serve, and AAA Cares is a great example of how we can make a difference in young people’s lives.”
The AAA Cares program was created by IT professionals at CSAA Insurance Group, the AAA insurance provider to AAA members in Arizona. They recognized the importance of teaching young people foundational business skills and they particularly wanted to reach out to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Students who are currently enrolled in an alternative high school are recommended for AAA Cares through a partnership with Deer Valley and Glendale Union High School districts. Priority is given to students who are not likely to have the skills offered by the program. Each student is assigned a volunteer mentor who provides technical support, as well as words of wisdom and encouragement.
Mentors are screened by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona to ensure the program complies with their standards. The non-profit also trains program volunteers and works closely with participating students. Verizon Wireless, Avaya Inc., EMC, Axiom, More Direct, Nice Systems, HP, Cognizant, Microsoft, Oracle and Jett Enterprises have also donated valuable resources to support AAA Cares.
“The program works—I’ve witnessed that year after year,” Jones said. “I just feel fortunate to work for AAA which invests so much in the community.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to more than 860,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Roadside Assistance responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on Arizona roadways. The auto club also provides insurance, travel, auto repair, discounts and financial services to AAA members. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through partnerships with AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, CSAA Insurance Group is rated A+ by A.M. Best and is one of the top 20 personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company was also named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light in 2014.
Stay connected with AAA online at AAA.com.