[February 14, 2018]

Macon Students Learn from GEICO Associates

For an hour each day during one recent week, nearly two dozen GEICO associates took part in a Junior Achievement of Georgia initiative that had them serving as teachers to eager, bright-eyed students at Burdell-Hunt Magnet Elementary School in Macon, Ga.

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GEICO associate Dennis White joins the Gekco in posing with Quantesha Pittman and her second-graders. Last month, White was a volunteer teacher for the class. (Photo: Ryan McKinney)

The associates-volunteers from service, claims and numerous other departments within GEICO's vast Macon operations-taught lessons on everything from financial literacy to career readiness, often drawing from their own educational and professional experiences to engage their young pupils.

GEICO associates and Burdell-Hunt students are well acquainted. Junior Achievement has been bringing the two groups together for 16 years for the kind of youth development opportunities that Junior Achievement has been advancing for a century.

"Each year, our associates jump at the chance to take part in this program. These kids are our future, and they are future GEICO employees and customers," said Marvel Burgess, GEICO's public affairs coordinator for Macon. "This program is really an opportunity for our associates to tell the students not only about what we do at GEICO, but also to help them learn some fundamental skills."

Jonathon Barrett, Junior Achievement of Georgia's vice president of statewide operations, said, "Junior Achievement of Georgia is grateful for our continued partnership with GEICO. Their commitment and passion for serving students in the Macon area helps us further our mission of empowering students to thrive."

The volunteer teachers used a curriculum developed by Junior Achievement, but the panache they displayed in the classroom was all their own. Claims examiner Jordan Boggs divided his fifth-graders into small groups for a project that explored career options.

"I have volunteered for a few years, and the fun part for me is seeing how excted the students get about learning and how eager they are to participate in activities," Boggs said.

Katie Griffis is a former teacher who left the profession for a career at GEICO as a zone representative in roadside assistance. She too has volunteered to take part in the program for several years.

"It gives me the chance to flex my teaching muscle and to really try to help make a difference for these kids," she said.

With 5,700 associates, GEICO is Macon's largest employer. Associates' volunteer activities are well-known throughout the city. Last September, GEICO was awarded the Victory in Progress Industry Award by Bibb-Macon County Schools. The company earned a Whitney M. Young Award from the Central Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts in November.

About GEICO

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the second-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO, which was founded in 1936, provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 16 million private passenger customers, insuring more than 24 million vehicles (auto & cycle).

Using GEICO's online service center, policyholders can purchase policies, make policy changes, report claims and print insurance ID cards. Policyholders can also connect to GEICO through GEICO Mobile, reach a representative over the phone or visit a GEICO local agent.

GEICO also provides insurance quotes on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for life, homes and apartments is written by non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available.

For more information, go to www.geico.com.

About Junior Achievement (JA)

Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia is transforming the student experience by bringing relevance, authenticity and application into everyday learning. In partnership with the education and business communities, JA of Georgia's dynamic learning solutions - JA Academy, JA BizTown, JA Finance Park and JA High School Leaders - delivered career readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to more than 174,000 students in the 2016-2017 school year. JA of Georgia's efforts are concentrated in the Atlanta, Augusta (News - Alert), Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville and Savannah markets. For more information and a complete list of programs, visit www.georgia.ja.org.

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