CELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF
“HONORING OUR PAST, EMPOWERING OUR FUTURE!”
As Junior Achievement of South Florida celebrates its 65th anniversary, we reflect on decades of empowering over 1.3 million students with the skills needed to succeed in the real world.
This milestone year is not just a celebration of our rich history but a tribute to the visionaries who laid the foundation for a movement that spans the globe. From the early days of JA USA’s founding in 1919 by Horace Moses and his colleagues to our start in August of 1959 to the opening of JA World Huizenga Center in 2009, our journey has been marked by growth, innovation and a steadfast commitment to bridging the gap between education and practical business skills. As we honor our past, we look forward to continuing our mission and inspiring future leaders for many years to come.
Junior Achievement USA was started in 1919 to help young people whose families moved from farms to the city gain the skills needed to be successful adults.
Junior Achievement of South Florida was created in early summer by members of the Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club. In its first year, we served 373 high school students in the JA Company Program (now JA Fellows).
The first JA Business Hall of Fame honored Robert Hofmann. Since then, more than 120 Laureates have been inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame.
Partnership/mandate with Broward County Public Schools for all 5th and 8th grade students to participate in JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park.
Received $5 million gift and updated building name to JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion.
Today’s JA has seen a greater than triple enrollment and a deeper impact by shifting from real-world simulations to experiential learning in real-world settings.
STUDENTS SERVED HISTORICALLY
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY
Empower More Dreams
Momentum and reach have been extraordinary, but the best is yet to come with your help to shape the future of teaching, training, inspiring and preparing our students for today’s innovation-fueled, global economy.
Your contribution will allow us to continue providing and improving the quality of entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy programs to more than 80,000 students in Broward and south Palm Beach counties. We appreciate your consideration of investing in their future by donating today.
SHARE YOUR JA STORY
As a Junior Achievement alum, your journey can inspire and guide the next generation of students. Whether you participated in JA years ago or recently, your story showcases the impact of JA’s mission. By sharing how JA shaped your path, you can give current students in South Florida the encouragement and confidence to pursue their dreams.
We invite you to take a moment to reflect on your experiences with JA and tell us your story. Your insights can provide valuable lessons and motivation for those who are now walking the same path you once did.
GUIDE A YOUNG VISIONARY
Volunteers and mentors bring JA programs to life!
When students connect with adults and hear their life/career experiences, they are provided hope and the belief that they can achieve great things, too. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Career Speakers
- JA BizTown/JA Career Discovery Park Simulation Volunteers
- Industry Day Hosts
- Curriculum Lesson Teachers
- Case Challenge/Job Mentors
- Signature Event Co-Chairs
Thank you to everyone who participated in our #JASouthFlorida65 Countdown Contest! The response was incredible, and we’re thrilled to share the correct answers with you:
- Founding year: 1959
- Annual student impact: Over 80,000
- Our learning hub: JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion at Broward College
- Number of volunteers: 5,000+ annually
- 8th graders’ experience: JA Career Discovery Park
- Year we opened the largest JA center: 2009
- High school entrepreneurship program: JA Fellows
- Founding organization: Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club
- Kids’ city-running program: JA BizTown
- Name on JA World: H. Wayne Huizenga
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
- Instagram User: @yallz_is_jolly
- Instagram User: @xtinefaith23
- LinkedIn: Tollisha Joseph
- LinkedIn: Anne Braznell Hunt
