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JENKS, Okla., Oct. 2, 2018 – Fourth- through sixth-graders are learning how to generate business revenue, pay off loans and conduct town hall meetings in a mock community. Gateway Mortgage Group, a full-service mortgage company founded by Kevin Stitt, donated to Junior Achievement of Oklahoma to support its efforts.

JA BizTown, an interactive education program of Junior Achievement of Oklahoma, develops students’ critical thinking skills in real-world scenarios to help them become financially literate adults. This year, approximately 11,000 Tulsa students will participate in the program, conducting work as CEOs, chief financial officers and small business owners, among other roles.

“We back up our mission to strengthen the families in our community by sponsoring programs at Junior Achievement,” said Hobie Higgins, Gateway Mortgage Group’s chief community engagement officer. “Gateway wants to help kids and their families be financially literate.”

Junior Achievement of Oklahoma empowers young people to own their economic success. The nonprofit’s pillars include financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness.

“Engaging companies like Gateway Mortgage Group helps us achieve our goal of introducing the business world to JA BizTown students,” said Brian Jackson, development manager at Junior Achievement of Oklahoma. “Our mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.”

The donation is part of the company’s “Gateway Gives Back” program, which will reinvest $275 million and thousands of volunteer hours in communities throughout Oklahoma over the next five years. The program will also provide mortgage financing in low- to-moderate-income communities.

About Gateway First Bank 

Gateway First Bank is a leading financial institution that provides banking and mortgage services for consumers and commercial customers. Headquartered in Jenks, Oklahoma, Gateway is a $1.9 billion asset sized bank with a strong mortgage operation.  Gateway is one of the largest banking and mortgage operations in the United States with six bank branches in Oklahoma, over 160 mortgage centers in 42 states, and almost 1,600 employees.  Learn more at www.GatewayFirst.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender (NMLS 7233)

Follow Gateway First on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GatewayFirstBank/), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gatewayfirst/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/Gateway1st).