All posts tagged: South Florida

Junior Achievement Partners with Synovus Bank to Deliver Financial Literacy Lessons

Support will also include work and career readiness and entrepreneurship lessons

City of Coconut Creek, Florida (October 19, 2022) — Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) is one of five local JA operations across the country participating in a partnership with Synovus Bank. Synovus recently contributed $250,000 to Junior Achievement USA through its Here Matters Community Fund to deliver lessons on financial literacy, essential life skills, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship to thousands of students in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The lessons will educate and empower children throughout their journeys toward a bright and successful future. The Synovus contribution was the bank’s first donation to a nonprofit since establishing the community fund.

Through this partnership, Junior Achievement of South Florida, alongside local Synovus Bank representatives, will determine which learning experiences best meet the needs of the Broward and south Palm Beach communities.

“Our research shows students are eager to learn about money, business ownership, and work and careers, but they often don’t know where to go for help,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. “With the commitment of Synovus, we will be able to help thousands of young people gain knowledge in these critical life skills.”

JA learning experiences depend on volunteers from partners like Synovus to help bring lessons to life for the students it serves. As part of Synovus’ community outreach program called Here Matters, Synovus team members will help teach JA programs in local schools.

“At Synovus, our purpose is to enable people to reach their full potential,” said Sean Simpson, Synovus’ FL Division CEO. “JA inspires young people to take charge of their financial futures, and we’re proud to partner with the nonprofit to strengthen communities and positively impact future generations.”

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. 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 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 69,000 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 JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

About Synovus Bank

Synovus Bank, a Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and retail banking and a full suite of specialized products and services, including private banking, treasury management, wealth management, mortgage services, premium finance, asset-based lending, structured lending, and international banking through branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Synovus is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company and is on the web at synovus.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

For More Information, Contact:

Christopher Miller, Senior Marketing and Media Production Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110

Latest News

JA & Broward County Public Schools Partner to Launch 3DE Schools

Innovative Model Proven to Accelerate Student Engagement and Academic Outcomes

CITY OF COCONUT CREEK, FL (September 20, 2022) – “EDUCATION IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. IT CHANGES LIVES.” ~ Condoleezza Rice. 3DE schools by Junior Achievement is transforming the high school education experience across the country. This educational model re-engineers high school education to be more relevant, experiential and authentically connected to the complexities of the real world to prepare today’s students for the demands of tomorrow’s economy.

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) was selected to be among 10 JA areas of 102 in the US, to bring this new approach to high school education in its local school district. JA has partnered with Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) to launch the 3DE model in two schools this fall. McArthur High School and Charles W. Flanagan High School were selected by BCPS as the first schools to implement the model.

“BCPS is thrilled to partner with JA to bring 3DE to our local high schools. Our long-time partnership with JA is one of alignment and collaboration. The outcomes this model is demonstrating are outstanding and we look forward to reporting similar results in the next few years. Our mutual goal is to provide the most engaging learning environment possible for our students. JA programs complement the work of BCPS in the classroom, at JA World and in the community,” said Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent.

3DE is a holistic, comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to reconstruct traditional high school education, combining core academics with real world application. Delivering the model includes everything from restructuring the school organization, reconstructing the curriculum design, teacher development and support, case challenge application and the involvement of business partners.

“JA is honored to have been selected as one of the 10 locations to launch 3DE nationally. This school model fully prepares students for tomorrow’s demands by integrating business challenges directly into education to heighten students’ appreciation for academics (e.g., Reading, History, Math, Science, etc.) and long-term workforce aspirations,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida.

Today’s complexities require a new approach within education that will position all students for opportunity. 3DE is helping to ensure that students graduate with the skills, mindsets and goals to be successful in the future. Our goal is to accelerate economic competitiveness and expand opportunity for all.

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. 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 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 69,000 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 JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

About 3DE by Junior Achievement:

3DE is a subsidiary non-profit organization under Junior Achievement USA, based in Atlanta, Ga, dedicated to re-engineering high school education nationwide.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 3DE SCHOOLS:

APPROACH – WHAT MAKES 3DE UNIQUE:

The 3DE school “within-a-school” model uses real-world experiences to connect standards-based learning and project-based application to create interdisciplinary learning environments. This model breaks through traditional barriers and redesigns the framework of education from the inside out – expanding economic opportunity for ALL students. It…

Provides access and exposure for students to diverse, high-growth careers
Provides businesses with innovative perspectives to discover new productivity ideas and/or solutions by tomorrow’s leaders, future consumers, and future employees

DELIVERY:

Case methodology is proven to increase student engagement, build critical thinking, strengthen comprehension, and accelerate academic performance. Using integrated learning through dynamic case challenges co-designed by business partners, catalyzes student collaboration with peers, provides exposure to industries, and builds skill sets.

GOAL – EXPERIENCED & EMPOWERED STUDENTS:

Upon graduation, 3DE students can choose a post-secondary path that best suits their passions and career plan. 3DE students will have been exposed to a variety of industries and businesses, building a future talent pipeline for our workforce. Each 3DE student will have also experienced 16 real-world case challenges and a senior capstone project. National and local business partnerships, with organizations such as Arby’s, Truist, UPS, Delta Airlines, Deloitte, and Home Depot, provide case challenges geared towards equipping young people with the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities.

3DE 2021 FLORIDA RESULTS

2,108 students across 7 schools
500+ business professionals engaged
1% fewer cases of absenteeism
9% outperformance on state assessments
7% teacher buy-in & engagement

For More Information, Contact:
Adrinia Woods, Chief Revenue Officer
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7100 x131 or [email protected]

Latest News

HOW JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH FLORIDA LIT UP THE LIFE AND DREAMS OF A STRANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

South Florida Business & Wealth
September 2022
By Drew Limsky

Junior Achievement gave 17-year-old Jayden Bonhomme something that school could not. And that’s the point. This is a story of burgeoning self-esteem,validation, and an epiphany that his varied interests could lead to a viable career path.

Through its Youth Employment program, which is part of JA Career Bound, the organization helps teenagers prepare for the workforce. They learn interviewing skills, presentation skills, collaboration, conflict resolution, networking, how different companies in varied sectors function—in short, the real world.

“Research says that students graduate from high school knowing only about five to eight jobs,” says Laurie Sallarulo, president and CEO of JA of South Florida. The program serves to remedy that. For Bonhomme, JA—and Career Bound, in particular—made him envision a future as a health care administrator. “I became acquainted with Junior Achievement in high school during my freshman year,” Bonhomme recalls. “I remember everyone was getting dressed up for mock interviews, and I thought, I want to be a part of that.” The first time Bonhomme walked into JA’s Town Square, for a field trip during his sophomore year, he noted the breadth of the organization’s reach—various colleges, Broward Health, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, the FBI and the military were all represented.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ONLINE

Press

Marine Industry Partners Commit to Renew Storefront

The Marine Industry Storefront exists to educate the younger generation about the multitude of career opportunities in the maritime community

Coconut Creek, FL – August 30, 2022- In response to the workforce crisis being faced by marine industry employers, a group of local companies came together to educate young people about the variety of meaningful, good-paying jobs across the industry. The “Sea the World” storefront at Junior Achievement’s educational facility, JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, opened originally in 2019. Since then, almost 80,000 8^th-grade students have experienced this interactive, simulated space that allows them to learn about career pathways across the marine industry.

We are proud to announce that the group of companies involved has grown and the storefront sponsorship has been renewed for three additional school years. This renewal initiative was led by Christine Battles, AMESolutions.com and Sea The World Spear header, and Megan Lagasse, Marine Director at Pier Sixty-Six.

“The maritime community faces an aging workforce, with skilled labor being very hard to find. In an industry where skill sets and specialized career tracks are vital to its prosperity, it is important to expose young people early on to the various career pathways within the industry,” said Christine Battles. “It was quite a challenge to bring the industry and environment alive on the walls of the storefront, but when you visit you will see how we showcased shipyard trade workers, engine room specialists, yachting professionals, and other career specialties like marina management, training, boat building and more.”

Junior Achievement of South Florida provides programs both in classrooms and at JA World that bring real-world experiential education around work readiness skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to almost 70,000 students each year. The JA Finance Park program is focused on providing career exploration and pathway opportunities across industries. It is also focused on personal finance education for every 8^th grader in Broward County Public Schools where students learn to manage the income they earn.

One of the 8^th grade JA Finance Park students shared, “This program helped me to see what it feels like to be an adult. I never knew I could do what I like which is cooking and being a chef on a yacht or a ship! And I would make a lot of money! Thank you marine industry for showing me there are other jobs I never knew about.”

“JA is thrilled and grateful the marine industry is represented in JA Finance Park. Students are rarely exposed to the opportunities in this booming South Florida industry and this program is designed to make students aware of the high-wage career pathways. This storefront is a great example of industry leaders coming together to educate and influence future employees,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida.

JA Sea The World storefront partners donated financially to support the program for three years and design and build out the space with exciting and engaging elements. Partners include: Advanced Mechanical Enterprises, Inc./AMEsolutions.com, AERE Docking Solutions, Cliff Berry, Inc., Elite Marine A/C, King Ocean Services, Global Marine Travel, IGY Marinas, Marine Industries Association of South Florida/MIASF, MarineMax, Inc., Maritime Professional Training/MPT, OneWater Yacht Group, Palmdale Oil Company, Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina, Roscioli Yachting Center, RPM Diesel Engine Co., Safe Harbor Marinas, Seabulk Tankers (Seacor), Thomas Marine Systems, Universal Marine Center, Wards Marine Electric, Water Taxi Fort Lauderdale, Wright Maritime Group. In-kind partners providing web hosting (AdvantageServices.net), promotional advertising (The Triton), branding, and graphic design (Good Label Co.) to raise more awareness about “Sea the World”. www.jaseatheworld.org

There’s still a lot more to be done in the maritime industry across the nation, but we’re grateful that JA Sea the World can continue to be a steppingstone in bridging the maritime workforce gap in Florida. A BIG thanks to the businesses, associations, and individuals who made this possible!

Hear What JA Sea the World Partners Have to Say

“From what we’re experiencing as a nation, now more than ever, our cause is crucial in gearing up our next generation of maritime professionals. It’s exciting to see the progress we have made so far with the Marine Industry Storefront and its impact on the students,” said Christine Battles, CAO, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises, “Our industry is a gold mine of opportunities for the next generation. I’ve made a personal commitment to inspire their interest in our field to keep the maritime industry as a thriving economic force in the state. Our JA storefront is a major step toward fulfilling this initiative.”

“For more than 60 years, Pier Sixty-Six has been an iconic waterfront destination in Fort Lauderdale and we are honored to be part of the Junior Achievement Marine Storefront. The Marine Industry is a vital economic engine for our community, and it’s our responsibility to protect our position as the yachting capital of the world. We look forward to sharing the many exciting job opportunities with the children who travel through Junior Achievement.” -Megan Lagasse, Marine Director, Pier Sixty-Six Marina

“Maritime Professional Training remains dedicated to improving lives through education. The JA Marine Industry storefront is an important initiative for the entire community, providing insight, opportunity, and promise to the leaders of tomorrow…… enabling them to “Sea the World” as a better place.” -Lisa Morley, Executive Vice President, Maritime Professional Training/MPT

“The success of Seacor Island Lines’ future is founded on good people. Our dynamic environment coupled with the diversity of our employees makes Seacor Island Lines an exciting place to build a successful career.” -Charles Gittens, President, Seacor Island Lines

“Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center is pleased to partner with JA and the Sea the World exhibit to illustrate and showcase our industry’s opportunities in a unique way to help educate and attract future talent into our booming industry.” -Tim Sargent, COO International – Safe Harbor Marinas

“Introducing middle school students to a booming local industry assists in the long-term success of our community. AERE is a family-owned company and our son will be looking for qualified employees as he takes over operations.” –Vicki Abernathy, Chief Operating Officer, AERE Marine Group

“The Junior Achievement Marine Industry Storefront is going to make an enormous positive impact to 50,000 kids per year in South Florida by showing them the vast and unique opportunities that exist within the Marine Industry. In the long run, our business Elite Marine A/C and other businesses alike will have more prospects to fill more and more job opportunities. The Junior Achievement Marine Industry Storefront is a huge win-win for both the community and the Marine Industry.” -Benjamin Koppenhoefer, President, Elite Marine A/C

“MarineMax is proud to partner with Junior Achievement on this wonderful project. Educating the next generation is extremely important no matter the industry. But we all share a love for the water, and it’s exciting to share opportunities in the marine field with up-and-coming generations.” – Chuck Cashman, MarineMax Chief Revenue Officer

“The Water Taxi is proud to partner with the JA Marine Industry Storefront and educate generations to come about this field. The marine industry is essential to Fort Lauderdale’s economy and lifestyle, and this storefront will help strengthen that for the future.” -Bill Walker, Owner of the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi

“The Marine Industry is one of the largest industries here in South Florida and it takes a huge amount of people and resources to sustain it. Palmdale Oil Company is thrilled to support the Marine Industry thru Junior Achievement. We are excited to show the children who visit the center all the different opportunities that exist within the Marine Industry, opportunities that exist right in their own backyards.” – Mallory Cheatham, Palmdale Oil

“Our goal, as a founding member of Sea the World, was to create another way to reach the future technicians, managers and supporters of our industry. The Marine Industry Storefront clearly identifies the myriad of opportunities that exist in the Maritime sector, as sea-going crew members or shore-based support staff. We look forward to seeing the storefront exhibit grow and continue to provide students with options and opportunities to succeed in our dynamic and exciting industry.” – James Brewer, Managing Director. Roscioli Yachting Center

“We are excited to be a part of the effort to help future generations thrive in an industry that has been a part of our family for two generations. Full speed ahead! “John C. Thomas, President, Thomas Marine Systems Inc.

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. 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 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 69,000 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 JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

For More Information, Contact:
Christopher Miller, Senior Marketing and Media Production Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110

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Latest News

Junior Achievement Announces New Board Leadership

Andrew Koenig Named Board Chair

City of Coconut Creek, Florida (September 1, 2022) — Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) announces Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture, as its new Board Chair to serve a two-year term. Mr. Koenig will continue the momentum built under the leadership of Tim Rubin, Director of Client Services at Kaufman Rossin, who served as Chair for three years.

“I am grateful for Tim’s support and commitment during a challenging time for nonprofits. Under his leadership, the board was dedicated to helping the organization stay financially healthy. Working with the Governance Committee, Tim also brought a focus on diversity, ensuring the board was represented across all groups, demographics, industries and expertise,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. “I am excited about the future and to continue our work with Andrew Koenig at the helm. Andrew is a passionate visionary who will bring inspiring leadership to the board.”

CITY Furniture has been a company dedicated to improving the community for many years. Continuing the family tradition started by his uncle, dad and mom, under Andrew’s leadership as CEO, the company has committed to giving back 5% of its annual profits across five pillars: home, health, service, diversity and education. Andrew is personally committed to serving and giving his time to some of the organizations CITY supports, including JA.

“As a father, I understand how important it is for our children to have the skills and experiences they need to be successful adults and as a business leader, I realize the importance of building a future pipeline of employees. I love that through Junior Achievement all children have access to this real-world education that helps prepare them for work and life. They need us today and we will need them tomorrow,” said Andrew Koenig.

CITY Furniture has been involved with Junior Achievement of South Florida since the opening of JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion 14 years ago. CITY Furniture is a JA Finance Park storefront partner, impacting over 20,000 8th graders each year with career exploration and personal finance education. CITY also donates money raised through their “Test Rest” campaign, sponsors JA events and hires JA interns through the Youth Employment program. Their financial support and involvement as volunteers set a great example for other companies.

JA is also pleased to share the appointment of Executive Committee Members Lisa Anderson, Jeni Chokron, Monique Corker, Kathy Foster, David Greenberg, Brenda Horner, Geoffrey Horst, Tom Loffredo, Lois Marino, Joel Mayersohn, Stuart Morris, Monica Navarro, Steve Nudelberg, John Ray III, Tim Rubin, Franki Lupo Schmidt, Greg Thompson and Mark Walter.

JA’s Board of Directors is composed of 70 business, education and community leaders that bring a strong and balanced blend of skills, experiences and perspectives to the organization. “I am proud to lead with such a diverse, forward-thinking, committed group of board members who are passionate advocates for JA’s vision to help train the next generation of business leaders, employees, employers and consumers. Together, we will continue to increase awareness of JA’s work and partner with the Broward County School District to deepen the impact for each student,” said Andrew Koenig.

Learn more about the Board of Directors at JASouthFlorida.org/Board-of-Directors.

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida
Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. 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 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 69,000 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 JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

For More Information, Contact:
Christopher Miller, Senior Marketing and Media Production Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110

Latest News

Florida Lottery Supports JA Career Bound Program and Books, Bucks & Backpacks Event

For Immediate Release

City of Coconut Creek, Florida (July 6, 2022) — Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) is grateful to the Florida Lottery for recently supporting its JA Career Bound program graduation celebrations and 2022 Books, Bucks and Backpacks outreach event.

Over the course of the 2021-2022 school year, 150 high school students from six Broward County schools participated in JA Career Bound, which is designed to expose and prepare students for workplace success. Students experience industries firsthand, develop work skills through business case challenges and have the opportunity for summer employment.

The JA Career Bound staff recently celebrated the program completion achievements of over 120 students (85%), which included graduation ceremonies that showcased case challenge demonstrations, guest speakers and certificate presentations. In addition to Florida Lottery, this program is also supported by the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Broward County Public Schools, Community Foundation of Broward and various South Florida businesses and individual donors/mentors who play an active role in the student training, employment coaching and college scholarship elements of the program.

On May 21st, JA joined forced with Broward Schools, other education partners, local business and healthcare providers for the Books, Bucks & Backpacks event, presented by CITY Furniture. Over 1,500 Broward County students and their families attended. Thanks to supporters, like Florida Lottery, the students received backpacks and had the opportunity to fill them with school supplies, piggy banks, Florida Lottery sunglasses, financial literacy, healthcare tips and other “sliding into summer success” goodies from JA partners.

“Junior Achievement is proud of its newly developed partnership with the Florida Lottery, which continues to be a dedicated partner to Florida’s schools and students by making education its biggest winner! We are thankful for their commitment to JA’s mission of empowering youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy and lead our community,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO.

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 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 54,000 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 https://www.jasouthflorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

About The Florida Lottery

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $41 billion to enhance education and sending more than 917,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 99 percent of its revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Lottery retailers, and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $80.5 billion in prizes and made more than 3,500 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.

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

Latest News

Teens Win Prestigious Awards at National Competition

FedEx recognizes teen entrepreneurs for an innovative business plan to drive job creation and protect the environment

For Immediate Release

City of Coconut Creek, Florida (June 29, 2022) — At the 2022 Junior Achievement (JA) National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) held June 19th-23rd, student-run company Ecossentials from NSU University School won the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx, and the ICE NYSE Foundation Best Financial Performance Award.

For the Global Possibilities Award, Ecossentials, as evaluated by a special FedEx panel, represented the best business plan with the potential to create jobs and grow small businesses with environmental sustainability. While the ICE NYSE Foundation Best Financial Performance Award was presented to Ecossentials for performing the best against criteria including profitability, investor expectations, employee earnings, product quality, leadership, and operational efficiency.

Junior Achievement’s National Student Leadership Summit is a contest of business skills, ingenuity, and innovation that focuses on the accomplishments of JA Company Program® students, ages 15-18, during the 2021-2022 academic year. Administered under JA Fellows, this program provides teens the opportunity to start and run their own businesses under the mentorship of a local business volunteer. JA Fellows is the “go to” learn-by-doing entrepreneurial and business experience for middle and high school students. Students gain real-world business experience by working in groups of 20-25, conceptualizing, capitalizing and managing their own small businesses. Throughout this 10-month, real-life entrepreneurship program, students develop communication, financial management, problem-solving, collaboration and time management skills, just to name a few.

During the National Student Leadership Summit three-day event, the teen-run companies compete for several awards, engage in several virtual seminars led by national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business, and virtually pitch their companies to a panel of judges comprised of business leaders.

“For the 7th consecutive year, Junior Achievement of South Florida has had a JA Fellows team represent us at this prestigious national competition. We applaud all 550 students who participated this year for their outstanding efforts, our teachers, mentors, and community partners who continue to support our entrepreneurship education efforts,” said Laurie Sallarulo, JA President & CEO. “Congratulations to Ecossentials for winning these two awards!”

“At FedEx, we believe a connected world is a better world. We empower everyone from small business owners to Fortune 500 companies to reach customers all over the world”, said Rose Flenorl, manager of Global Citizenship at FedEx. “FedEx’s Global Possibilities platform celebrates the power of global connectivity and the next generation of innovators on the verge of the next big idea. The Global Possibilities Award recognizes a student-run business that best exhibits the principles of global connectivity: Driven by Innovation, Connecting to New Markets, Fueling Community Development and Sustainable and Social Responsibility.”

“After realizing how harmful plastics are to the environment and the thousands of innocent animals that die daily from plastic globally, the Ecossentials team knew we needed to make a change. Our main focus is to provide consumers with the most convenient way to make the switch from plastic products to an eco-friendlier and more sustainable alternative with as minimal effort as possible,” said CEO Kayla Bigelman, who was responsible for managing the company’s overall operations.

The Ecossentials Daily Essentials Pouch provides individuals a convenient way to improve their self-care while drastically benefiting the global environment with minimal effort. The pouch includes a bamboo toothbrush with a holder, bamboo hairbrush, plantable pen with an encapsulated seed and 100% botanical soap all in a canvas pouch. Learn more at https://www.shopecossentials.com/.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 2.5 million students per year in 103 markets across the United States as part of 10 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

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

Latest News

Five Top Community Leaders will be Inducted into Business Hall of Fame. Two Additional Outstanding Individuals will Receive Prestigious Awards.

For Immediate Release

City of Coconut Creek, Florida — Junior Achievement is hosting the JA Business Hall of Fame, presented by American Express, Friday, May 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Event will occur at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion.

Five top community leaders, who have made a significant impact in their industry and have demonstrated vision, commitment to excellence, courageous leadership and community responsibility, will be inducted into the JA Business Hall of Fame. The 2022 Laureates are Jon and Ron Antevy (eBuilder), Milton L. Jones (Milton Jones Development Corporation), Ramon Rodriguez (WithMyDoc, Inc.) and Mark Warren (International Materials LLC).

This year’s special award honorees are Harry Patten (Patten Family Foundation) and Juliet Roulhac (Florida Power & Light). Harry Patten, who’s loyal dedication to Junior Achievement of South Florida, will receive the Huizenga Lifetime Legacy Award, created in honor of the late Marti and Wayne Huizenga in 2016.

At the Patten Family Foundation JA Finance Park, each year more than 20,000 eighth grade students from Broward and south Palm Beach Counties learn how financial decisions will impact their lives. These include expenses related to family health care, real estate and home improvements, automobiles, insurance, entertainment, education, and purchasing items such as clothing, furniture and groceries.

Juliet Roulhac will receive the Melissa Aiello Character Award, created in 2015 in recognition of Melissa Aiello, the former CEO & President of Junior Achievement of South Florida who lived her life with integrity and honor. Juliet has dedicated her life to philanthropic endeavors and community engagement so much that it has become her career.

“We are so thankful to these incredible leaders who have supported our mission and the greater community,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. “They are role models to the over 54,000 students who participate in our innovative entrepreneurship, financial literacy and career readiness programs. This event gathers some of the top community advocates together to recognize these outstanding leaders and raise funds to support our impactful mission.”

The 2022 JA Business Hall of Fame is sponsored by American Express, CITY Furniture, Delta Air Lines, Huizenga Family Foundation, TD Bank, Rick Case Automotive Group, eBuilder, Florida Power & Light, R-Squared Charitable Fund, Transworld Business Advisors, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Kaufman Rossin, Mark Warren Family Foundation, Stiles Corporation, Health Foundation of South Florida, Office Depot, American National Bank, Lifestyle Media Group and Silver Lining Catering.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and digital advertising, contact Jennifer Barb at [email protected], call (954) 979-7101 or visit JASouthFlorida.org/BusinessHallofFame.

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 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 54,000 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.

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

Latest News

Sea the World Educates Youth About Marine Industry Careers

Junior Achievement of South Florida’s Sea the World Storefront Seeks to Continue the Next 3-year School Year Term

Coconut Creek, FL – April 15, 2022: Junior Achievement of South Florida’s Marine Industry Storefront “Sea the World” seeks to continue the next 3-year school year term. Each year more than 20,000 8th grade students from Broward and south Palm Beach Counties visit the Marine Industry Storefront to learn about the multitude of career opportunities in the maritime community. The storefront exists to keep the industry thriving with a new generation of workers.

On April 20, 2022, Junior Achievement of South Florida’s (JA) Marine Industry Storefront will hold a Champagne Reception. Guests will tour the Patten Family Finance Park at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Well Pavilion and learn more about the community-strengthening cause. The reception is from 5 PM to 7 PM.

Our nation, across all industries, is experiencing a workforce crisis. We are facing unprecedented challenges in finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Research shows that the most critical and widespread challenge facing businesses is the inability to hire qualified workers for available jobs they need to fill. That’s where Junior Achievement comes in.

JA engages with students in a comprehensive classroom curriculum about finances, careers, income, expenses, savings, and credit. Not only does the JA teach financial literacy, but it also works towards inspiring the students that enter its walls to get excited about joining the workforce using immersive simulation experiences.

“Sea the World” storefront space originally came together in April of 2019. Understanding the need to keep the marine industry booming, Christine Battles with Advanced Mechanical Enterprises and 23 marine industry companies joined forces with Junior Achievement of South Florida to create the Marine Industry Storefront.

The storefront inspires students to join Florida’s 12.5 billion-per-year economic engine that provides the tri-county area with 149,000 careers/jobs. “Sea the World” has already impacted 150,000 students, several of whom are now high school juniors.

Three years after cutting the ribbon on the space, we’re working towards keeping this momentum going. Junior Achievement and maritime professionals are gearing up for the next 3-year school term and are seeking new partners. Both founding and new partners will contribute to leasing the storefront space and adding maritime elements to bring the “WOW factor” to students. The financial ask is $5k yearly for a 3-year commitment (May 2022 – April 2025). All donations are tax-deductible.

“What keeps port industry executives up at night? It’s not the economy. It’s not their competitors. It’s knowing if there will be a workforce in place to carry on for them and continue to serve the needs of the industry. Junior Achievement of South Florida maritime development program serves to do just that! Students are introduced to a great career field and well-paying, sustained, interesting and diverse jobs for their future. At the same time, Junior Achievement lays the groundwork for a plentiful maritime-specific educated and trained workforce for the next generation,” said Lori Baer, Executive Director, Port Everglades Association.

“From what we’re experiencing as a nation, now more than ever, our cause is crucial in gearing up our next generation of maritime professionals. It’s exciting to see the progress we have made so far with the Marine Industry Storefront and its impact on the students,” said Christine Battles, CAO, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises, “but there is still a lot to be done. If you believe in fueling our industry with new talent, we encourage you to become a partner and join the cause.”

“The marine industry plays a vital role in the South Florida economy and like all high-growth industries, needs a strong workforce pipeline. We are proud of our partnership with the companies that support the Sea the World storefront in the Patten Family Foundation JA Finance Park. Preparing young people for work and success requires the support and partnership of the business, nonprofit and education community.” said Laurie Sallarulo, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida.

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. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

Latest News

JA Worldwide Nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize

Junior Achievement of South Florida Celebrates this Prestigious Honor

We’re proud to announce that JA Worldwide has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Junior Achievement of South Florida, a member of the global JA network, has been serving young people in Broward and south Palm Beach counties since 1959, equipping them with the skillset and mindset to create sustainable businesses, find meaningful employment, and build thriving communities.

Nominations may be received only from heads of state and certain elected officials, university professors in selected fields, past Nobel laureates, and a few other notable individuals. Although the identity of each nominee officially remains anonymous for 50 years, JA Worldwide received permission to share that JA was nominated by a distinguished Professor of Law and International Affairs who was impressed by our global reach, our success in delivering economic empowerment to youth at scale, and our ability to find unity in diversity. For centuries, unemployment and poverty have led to political instability, violence, and war. By economically empowering youth on all continents, JA serves a conduit for peace.

Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide, shared his perspective in response to the nomination: “Peace is only possible when youth in all countries and regions have economic empowerment. JA Worldwide is honored to receive this nomination and will continue our work to enable all young people to have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Our primary hope for solving the world’s most complex problems rests in the young people of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Although all other Nobel prizes are awarded in Sweden, the Nobel Peace Prize is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, assisted by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which acts as its secretariat. Grete Nykkelmo, CEO of JA Norway (Ungt Entreprenørskap), responded to the news in this way: “We are delighted to share in this recognition as a proud member of the JA Worldwide network. Our unique blend of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness enables us to impact individuals, communities, and society. Peace is achieved when young people have economic opportunity, and we are honored that JA has been recognized alongside other nominees that are striving for a more peaceful world.”

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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.

Latest News