Junior Achievement of Georgia Breaks Ground on New JA Colonial Group Discovery Center of Savannah

Facility to impact 15,000 Coastal Empire students annually in partnership with local companies and school districts

Savannah, GA – Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia ceremoniously broke ground on the new JA Colonial Group Discovery Center of Savannah on Friday, February 19. The event signified the start of the renovation and retrofitting of 25,000 square feet of space on Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus. Together with presenting partners Colonial Oil, Inc. and Georgia Southern University, JA welcomed supporters and partners for a look at the existing space and how it will evolve in the coming months to begin serving students this fall.

“It’s this space that’s going to transform the lives of 15,000 middle school students a year throughout the whole costal region,” said Camille Russo, Vice President, Marketing, JA of Georgia. “It’s going to transform them by exposing and immersing them in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness, and by allowing them to really experience what their future could look like.”

 JA Discovery Centers blend key components of education to create state-of-the-art learning facilities where students apply concepts they learn in the classroom in a 360-degree authentic and experiential experience. Upon arrival students become a part of a simulated version of their hometown within the JA BizTown® and JA Finance Park® programs. Then students work alongside their peers and adult volunteers as they develop a greater understanding of financial concepts, build 21st century skills, and foster their entrepreneurial spirit.

 “There is tremendous alignment between the missions of our organizations,” said Dr. Kyle Marrero, President, Georgia Southern University. “This gives us the opportunity to work every day for the betterment of our own organizations, but also to develop the next generation of leaders who will shape our communities, inspire innovation, create solutions and impact countless others.”

 The facility will have representation from various local and national businesses –Georgia United Credit Union, Publix, South State Bank, Thomas & Hutton, and United Way of the Coastal Empire have committed to date – that will provide students a glimpse into possible career paths, as well as an opportunity to be an employee of the business for the day.

 “We’ve been avid supporters of JA’s mission over the years, due in large part to the alignment of our missions,” said Christian Demere, CEO, Colonial Group, Inc. “I think the businesses in Savannah are beneficiaries of their work with our students because these are the people that will become the employees, leaders and contributors in our community. We are very excited for this opportunity to further that mission and strengthen the foundation JA is cultivating in our youth.”

 Currently JA Discovery Centers serve more than 88,000 students a year across three locations - the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Altanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett and the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia in Cumming. The fourth facility, in Dalton, is under construction and will open in 2021, bringing the total impact to more than a third of middle school students in Georgia.

 To find out more about getting involved, please contact Camille Russo at crusso@georgia.ja.org or 912-344-5440.

GE, Truist Financial Corporation and UPS Honored by Junior Achievement with a U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award

Volunteers provided students with critical mentoring and positive role models

Atlanta, GA – Junior Achievement USA® (JA) today announced that it will honor GE, Truist Financial Corporation and UPS as 2019-2020 U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award recipients in appreciation of their valued partnership and support despite the limitations on volunteerism due to the pandemic. Truist Financial Corporation will receive a Gold award, and GE and UPS will receive Bronze awards. The U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award will be presented to 50 organizations at a virtual awards ceremony and celebration presented by American Express on February 3rd at 2 pm ET.

In 2003, President George W. Bush established the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation (the Council) to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make in communities and encourage more people to serve. The Council created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor individuals who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. In 2006, Junior Achievement became an official certifying organization for this award, which recognizes corporations with a U.S. presence that provide volunteers to teach JA programs anywhere in the world.

"Junior Achievement volunteers are important mentors for young people, bringing our programs to life. Our volunteers share their experiences and skills with students while at our JA Discovery Centers and with our 3DE students, providing an example of what their future success could look like. Our partnerships with GE, Truist Financial Corporation and UPS are integral to our organization’s success and are a vital part of our mission," said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia.

“Junior Achievement volunteers help build communities by empowering the next generation’s success,” said Allison Dukes, Chair, JA of Georgia Board of Directors, and CFO & Senior Managing Director, Invesco Ltd. "JA could not exist without the dedication of its volunteers. We are grateful for this opportunity to recognize their invaluable support."

Junior Achievement’s kindergarten through high school programs are delivered across the country by a network of nearly 152,000 volunteers, including 14,000 in Georgia. JA programs provide innovative, hands-on work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy education to more than 170,000 students in the state each year.

The complete list of recipients can be found here.

Retired Chick-fil-A, Inc. Chief Council Lynn Chastain Honored for Impact and Commitment

Chastain to receive Junior Achievement Gold Leadership Award for more than a decade of service to Junior Achievement of Georgia

ATLANTA– Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia announced today that Lynn Chastain, retired Chief Council, Chick-fil-A, Inc., has received the JA Gold Leadership Award. Chastain currently serves on the JA of Georgia Executive Committee and formerly served as Chair of the Board of Directors.

 “Lynn is so deserving of this award, and we are incredibly proud and honored that she is one of this year’s recipients,’ said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia. “Lynn’s dedication to our mission has resulted in an incredible impact on the students of our state, and we are so fortunate to have her insight and passion.”

This award is the highest recognition bestowed by Junior Achievement USA and is presented to JA volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to deliver JA programs in their communities, and may also dedicate their valuable time to serving on local JA boards. This year’s eight recipients from across the nation contribute a variety of ideals including creativity, effectiveness and drive, but most importantly, a deep a commitment the future of our next generation.

Chastain’s involvement with JA of Georgia began in 2002 as the lead for Chick-fil-A volunteer efforts, and she has served on the Board of Directors since 2008, spearheading the group as Board Chair from 2017-2019. She has been one of the organization’s most prominent and important thought leaders over the past decade, a time in which the organization saw tremendous change and growth. Student numbers, contact hours, board size, staff size and budget all increased tremendously during the time of Lynn’s active service.

More importantly, the organization’s change initiatives refocused the mission and brand during that time. Lynn has overseen the creation of four capstone centers and the launch of 3DE Schools by Junior Achievement, and along the way has been a tireless advocate for this work. She has also been a steady voice for excellence in these new operational models and insisted on building long-term plans to ensure sustainability.

Chastain is deeply committed to people; their education, their advancement and their dignity. This is seen in the way she led the Legal Team at Chick-fil-A and certainly in the way she led at JA. From interactions with fellow directors, to members of the staff to the students served, Chastain led with humility and integrity. She works from a servant mindset and is all about promoting growth and opportunity for all.

Chastain will be recognized for this achievement on March 25 at the annual JA USA Volunteer Summit.