juniorachievement

Girls Rule Celebrates, Empowers and Inspires Women and Girls

COCONUT CREEK, FL – Junior Achievement of South Florida launches Girls Rule – one amazing initiative and two exciting virtual events that celebrate, empower, and inspire women and girls.

Girls Rule with Title Sponsor Comerica Bank and Presenting Sponsor Bluegreen Vacations, kicks off with The Girls Rule Launch Event on Tuesday, March 16, from noon-1:15 p.m. “We are bringing together today’s resilient and forward-thinking women together to connect around a common vision to transform and advance the world for future generations of women,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO.

The Launch Event is reserved for sponsors, their guests and supporters and will provide an intimate and real-life opportunity to network. Guests will be inspired by Kara Goldin, Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc. Her company is best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water, with more than 150 employees and $150 million in sales. She also has a podcast and new book entitled, “Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters”.

On Wednesday, March 31, from 3-5 p.m. is the Girls Rule – Ignite Your Super Power Main Event that will connect hundreds of high school girls with powerful women. Students who might not have the opportunity to be influenced and mentored by strong women role models, will engage with inspiring and exciting keynote speakers, attend breakout sessions led by experienced women leaders paired with young female JA Alumni and receive a swag bag.

The event keynote speaker is Ari Chambers, a multi-media journalist, sports host, and social media manager based in New York City. Ari works for highlightHER and has grown its followers to over 70,000 and is considered the fastest growing women’s sports platform. Her message: “Women’s Potential is Limitless”.

Breakout session topics will cover self-care, goal setting, financial wellness, self-invention, personal branding, making responsible choices, building positive relationships, self-acceptance, effective teamwork, the power of positivity and effective communication/public speaking.

“We are honored to serve as the title sponsor of Junior Achievement Girls Rule,” said Mo Corker, Comerica Bank Florida External Affairs Market Manager. “Historically, women have played a vital role in our country’s economic recovery and growth, which is why it is important that we invest in girls’ and women’s empowerment. Our bank is committed to equipping the leaders of tomorrow with the tools and money skills needed to navigate the increasingly complex financial landscape. Partnering with JA on this initiative, creates a path to economic freedom for girls who traditionally would not have access to these resources.”

Other Girls Rule partners include Bluegreen Vacations, CITY Furniture, Rick Case Automotive, Castle Group, JM Family Enterprises, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Office Depot, Valley Bank, Jeni Kampeas Chokron, Laurie Sallarulo, Peter Woolf, Hoffman’s Chocolates, KEMET Electronics, Chaisteli Insurance Group, Holy Cross Hospital and Miller Construction Company.

In addition to sponsoring the event, women can join the Women Ignites Futures Movement, powered by CITY Furniture. For a donation of $50, women can submit a 2-minute video sharing their superpower, which will be shared on all social media platforms. For $100, they can also receive a copy of Kara’s book “Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters”.

For more information about Girls Rule, including sponsorship and facilitator opportunities, visit www.jasouthflorida.org/GirlsRule or contact Robyn Harper at (954) 979-7124 or [email protected].

About Junior Achievement of South Florida
Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

About Kara Goldin
Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fortune’s Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. The Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Kara has successfully navigated the world of large companies and startups in many industries including media, tech and consumer products. In addition, she understands retail and direct to consumer well. She is an active speaker & writer and hosts the podcast The Kara Goldin Show where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs and other disruptors across various industries. Kara’s first book, Undaunted, published by Harper Leadership, was released in October 2020. She lives in the Bay Area. Follow Kara on all social handles @KaraGoldin
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NBA Legend, TikTok Star and Sageworks Founder on “The Arena”

Young Entrepreneurs…Are You Ready to Enter “The Arena?”

When: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Where: Virtual Webinar
Time: 1:30 PM EST

“The Arena” is an action-packed web series where teen entrepreneurs present their businesses to a group of coaches who are successful entrepreneurs, Olympians, professional athletes and celebrities. It’s not an idea pitch or pitch event; these teens already have a small business and are looking for advice and being able to showcase their businesses as examples for youth across the country. The coaches know what it’s like to be in the arena and will provide advice the young people will need to grow their skills and their venture.

The event will be moderated by JJ Ramberg, former host of MSNBC’s Your Business. Two aspiring entrepreneurs will “Enter the Arena” to get input and feedback from former LA Laker and 3-time NBA Champion AC Green; TikTok star Ryan Shakes; and Sageworks Founder Brian Hamilton.Register to be a part of the audience below!

To view The Arena Episode 1 & 2 view the video below.

Need More Information?

For more information about this event, please contact JA USA!

THE COACHES AND SPECIAL GUESTS

AC Green
Former LA Laker And 3-Time NBA Champion

Brian Hamilton
Founder, Sageworks and Brian Hamilton Foundation

JJ Ramberg
Former Host of MSNBC’s Your Business

Ryan Shakes
TikTok Star

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Laurie Sallarulo Appointed to Statewide Board of Directors

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2020
Contact: Governor’s Press Office, (850) 717-9282, [email protected]

GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS APPOINTS LAURIE SALLARULO TO THE FLORIDA
ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Laurie Sallarulo to the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation Board of Directors.

Laurie Sallarulo, of Fort Lauderdale, is President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. Previously, she was CEO of Leadership Broward Foundation, Chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County and Chief Development and Strategic Officer for 2-1-1 Broward. Sallarulo has also volunteered her time with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and Leadership Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany.

About The Able Trust

The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, is a 501(c)(3) public charity established by the Florida Legislature in 1990 as a direct support organization for the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Its mission is to be a key leader in providing Floridians with disabilities opportunities for successful employment. Since its establishment, The Able Trust has worked with community organizations throughout the state to help thousands of Floridians with disabilities of all ages enter the workforce. The Able Trust youth programs provide career development and transition to many students with disabilities annually, helping to reduce the dropout rate and prepare young adults for life beyond high school.

Learn more at http://www.abletrust.org/.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

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My Junior Achievement Journey | Ayesha Sulaman

From Program Assistant, to Program Lead, to Marketing Coordinator. Ayesha reflects on her journey through her time at Junior Achievement of South Florida:

The Journey Begins

In August of 2018, I was hired as a Program Assistant for Junior Achievement of South Florida’s JA BizTown program. I never imagined myself working with students, yet alone 5th graders! It was amazing seeing them grasp the concepts of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness at such a young age. I developed many skills including leadership, understanding, patience, stress and time management. I was deeply moved by the impact JA had on these students and pleasantly surprised when I found out that there were programs for students in middle and high school.

If you’ve ever had the joy of volunteering at JA BizTown, you know that it is a fast-paced working environment. I had to be ready for things you cannot plan for and be able to think quickly on my feet. While this made day-to-day tasks stressful, it was never a boring day and helped build my character. Of course, I had the help of some amazing volunteers who communicated to students their roles as consumers, business leaders and employees.

The Next Step

After my first year, I quickly moved up to become a Program Lead, began learning the volunteer orientation, helped prepare JA BizTown curriculum and began to train some of the newly hired Program Assistants. These tasks gave me a better understanding and different perspective of the program. Of course, I wanted to make the most out of my experience, so I offered to work JA events like JA World Uncorked, Rose Soiree and JA Business Hall of Fame!

I even became involved with the Empowerment Committee, where I served as the committee chair for two years. I discovered a new passion for party planning and decorating! The committee coordinated staff massages, yoga, and our annual JA Olympics. I loved seeing how small, simple gestures, could bring such huge smile on the faces of my fellow co-workers.

COVID-19 Set Back

Once COVID-19 hit, my job was on hold due to the fact that students could not visit JA World. I was then offered the position as Marketing Coordinator, a position I had my eye on since I started working at Junior Achievement. I had so much fun working and supporting the team, especially during events. It’s always great seeing everyone come together to pitch in and make the mission come alive.

During this role, I learned much about creating video content, podcasting, social media strategies, email marketing and website maintenance on WordPress. I enjoyed bragging about the JA impact to stakeholders and connecting with them on LinkedIn! I learned so much and was inspired to start my very own company, Teany Weeny. Although COVID-19 initially set back my career journey, it also brought up new opportunities.

The End of One Journey

As my time at Junior Achievement of South Florida comes to an end, it allows me time to reflect on my experience and prepare for the next journey. As I look back, all I could say is that I am thankful for the skills I’ve learned, the opportunities, and the ever-lasting friends I made.

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Virtual Career Exploration Program Reaches More Than 8,000 South Florida Students

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:

Christopher Miller, Marketing Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110
[email protected]

VIRTUAL CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM REACHES
MORE THAN 8,000 SOUTH FLORIDA STUDENTS

Junior Achievement of South Florida is hosting JA Inspire Virtual, an online and interactive career exploration program on February 2-3, 2021. JA Inspire is a virtual career exploration fair targeting up to 8,000 8th, 11th and 12th grade students introducing them to high growth/high demand career pathways. These pathways include automotive, aviation, construction, finance, government, health, hospitality, marine and technology.

“Building a talent pipeline across industries is a common problem faced by our community. This is an opportunity for all of us to work together to inspire and excite our young people about jobs available right here in South Florida,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO. “JA Inspire gives students the ability to connect with employers who will answer the students’ questions about their industries, career paths, job responsibilities and business culture.”

The program will feature more than 50 exhibitors that have the flexibility to make their booths creative with videos, pamphlets, flyers, photos and career stories using the VFairs platform. Students will be given the choice to add information to their “backpack” so they can re-visit the booths for up to 90 days after the live event.

When students sign into the virtual platform, they will enter a virtual lobby along with other student avatars. They can then maneuver to an information center, an auditorium with live webinars, and visit virtual halls. Students will find specific industries using the directory provided to them, or can explore the virtual halls and stop at exhibitor booths. Throughout the day, there will be games to keep the students interested and engaged.

“Why JA Inspire? Students will begin their explorations with mostly abstract notions and will end up focused and activated, with real insights on what industries interest them, what specific jobs are like, and what education is required to do them successfully,” Sallarulo said.

For exhibitors and partners, this is an opportunity to inspire today’s students by sharing great things about your industry/business, financially contribute to JA programs through a sponsorship, and market your company to students, educators, parents and other businesses. Thank you to our current sponsor, The City of Pompano Beach and our exhibitors, Crewfacilities.com, Coconut Creek Fire Rescue, Publix and Tri Rail.

To get involved with JA Inspire, or to learn more visit https://jasouthflorida.org/JAInspire call Claire Aguilera at (954) 979-7104.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

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A Virtual Summit for a More Equitable and Just Tomorrow

When: Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Where: Virtual Event

Time: 1:00 PM EST

As an extension of their digital and experiential learning resources, Junior Achievement is partnering with Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow., CNBC’s financial wellness and education initiative in partnership with Acorns, to host a “Summit for a More Equitable and Just Tomorrow” on December 8 at 1pm ET.

Hosted by CNBC Senior Personal Finance Correspondent Sharon Epperson, this unique interactive event will give teens across America direct access to some of the country’s most knowledgeable experts on economic empowerment, especially as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The panelists will offer simple, straightforward strategies to help empower participants to strive toward promoting a more equitable and just tomorrow.

About CNBC

CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business content consumed by more than 557 million people per month across all platforms. The network’s 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC’s global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC’s highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.

CNBC also offers content through its vast portfolio of digital products such as: CNBC.com, which provides real-time financial market news and information to CNBC’s investor audience; CNBC Make It, a digital destination focused on making you smarter about how you earn, save and spend your money; CNBC PRO, a premium service that provides in-depth access to Wall Street; a suite of CNBC mobile apps for iOS and Android devices; Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri voice interfaces; and streaming services including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Samsung Smart TVs. To learn more, visit https://www.cnbc.com/digital-products/.

Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc. For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com.

Need More Information?

For more information about this event, please contact us!

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Junior Achievement Fills the Gap From Education to Employment

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:
Christopher Miller, Marketing Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110
[email protected]

JA plans for another successful year of providing internship opportunities for local high school students

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) is looking for South Florida businesses to host 150 JA trained interns for the summer of 2021. The overall goal is to prepare today’s youth for tomorrow’s careers by bridging the gap from education to employment.

“Junior Achievement is a solution provider in our community. Employers need to hire qualified, talented young professionals who are well trained for an always evolving workforce. JA is preparing our students to be the most responsible consumers, the most productive employees and business owners that will create jobs to better our economy,” said Laurie Sallarulo, Junior Achievement of South Florida President and CEO.

Prior to their internships, students participate in the JA Career Bound program, a cutting-edge, skills-building leadership program for high school students to learn the skills necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. The program includes a retreat, programs days focused on discovering specific industries, learning from top executives who share their professional journey to success and culminates in summer employment opportunities. Skills taught include critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, public speaking, communication, interviewing for a job and establishing career goals.

“I would like to say thank you to Junior Achievement, first and foremost, for helping me get the internship at WinterFest. This was my very first experience in a job. I don’t think I will ever be able to get similar advice or have a similar experience anywhere else,” said Phara Sylvain, summer employee.

Running from June to August, the Summer Youth Employment program matches trained interns with a company in each student’s industry of preference. Employers interview the students to guarantee a perfect match. Each employer provides 3-5 weeks of meaningful work and proper training so both parties can maximize on this opportunity. Thanks to generous funding from The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, JA pays the wages for each intern in the program.

“It’s a win-win partnership. The students gain work experience, future opportunities and build a strong network of professionals. Employers build and enhance their brand, invest in the next generation of leaders and ensure a pipeline of qualified, prepared employees in the future,” Sallarulo said.

This past summer, JA’s Summer Employment Program was a success. It placed 52 students in jobs with 27 companies. The employers had a 100% positive feedback about the program and 80% of the internships were extended from three to five weeks. In addition, three of the students were hired by the company upon completion of their internship.

“As employers and organizations, it’s part of our duty to give back to the community. I think the Summer Youth Employment program is a great opportunity to give back not only to the community, but also to those students who are going to be graduating soon,” said Mili Peluso, Centuric.

For more information on how you can host a trained student intern contact Anna Khaver, Youth Employment Manager, at (954) 979-7106 or email [email protected].

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

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JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND DISCOVER LAUNCH JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL®

Coconut Creek, FL – Today, Junior Achievement USA, with the support of Discover, is announcing the launch of JA Finance Park Virtual^®. The program is designed to help Middle and High School students better understand how to manage money by assigning them simulated life-scenarios and challenging them to successfully manage their finances.

The program, which aligns with national and state educational standards, is delivered by a teacher, with the support of a volunteer from the local business community. This can be done either in-person, online, or in a hybrid model. Students then use a laptop or mobile device to participate in the JA Finance Park Virtual simulation. The program helps teens gain a better understanding of how to assess difficult financial situations and weigh their options.

“Many Americans’ first experience with managing finances is as adults when getting something wrong can have life-changing implications,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. “With JA Finance Park Virtual, teens can try, and potentially fail, in a safe environment that includes lessons on money management. We greatly appreciate Discover’s support in helping us get these lessons to as many young people as possible through online delivery.”

“JA Finance Park Virtual gives students the opportunity to learn money management skills needed to make important education, career, and financial decisions, said Brian Hughes, Executive Vice President at Discover, and also a Junior Achievement of Chicago Board member. Helping people achieve brighter financial futures has long been Discover’s mission and we believe that mission extends to the classroom. The lessons learned through JA Finance Park Virtual will benefit teenagers long after they leave school.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT FINANCE PARK

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Entrepreneurs: Get Ready to Enter “The Arena”

Young Entrepreneurs…Are You Ready to Enter “The Arena?”

Episode 1

Episode 1 featured our very own Romy Peretz from JA Fellows Company Team, Germ Genie. Coaches and special guests included Tracy Tutor, Melinda Emerson and Brian Hamilton.

Episode 2

“The Arena” continues on December 2, 2020 at 1:30 PM EST. Coaches and special guests include: Dave Sparks (Heavy D), Kate Rogers and Brian Hamilton. To register click here.

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October 27 is National Mentoring Day! It’s the perfect time to think of a mentor who shaped you into who you are today.

The more than 54,000 students who participate each year in Junior Achievement of South Florida’s programs are better equipped to succeed in the workforce thanks to over 7,100 community volunteers and mentors who share their passion and expertise.

The benefits are endless for both our students and mentors. For students, they improve communication and personal skills, develop leadership and management skills, boosts confidence and much more! Mentors, doesn’t it make you feel good to give back and make a difference in the lives of others? Thanks to your efforts, our future leaders are learning essential entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy skills that will last them a lifetime.

We want to know about your mentorship experience!

JA Fellows Volunteer Gail Auguston-Koppen Shares the Importance of Mentoring

Whether in-person or virtual, you can volunteer or become a mentor with Junior Achievement and make a profound difference in the youth of our community.

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