JA of Georgia 75 Years Strong

Seventy-five years ago, JA of Georgia was founded, initially focusing on after-school programs where students crafted items like birdhouses and ashtrays to sell, instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in 1949's high schoolers.

However, during the same time period, Georgia's education landscape faced challenges with segregated schools and disparities in resources. Not until 1949, with the Minimum Foundation Program, was a uniform nine-month school term mandated. To address funding gaps, the Georgia General Assembly passed a 3% sales tax to help support schools.

Fast-forward to the early 2010s; when JA of Georgia collaborated with education and business partners to address income mobility, career-readiness gaps, and middle school engagement decline.  These priorities became the impetus for establishing JA of Georgia’s first Discovery Center, founded by the Chick-fil-A Foundation in 2013. The excitement of what a JA Discovery Center could offer our young people, as well as the business and education sectors, took flight! 

Two years later, Gwinnett County provided the capital to build the second JA Discovery Center in the state. In 2017, philanthropists Mike and Lynn Cottrell provided the capital funding for a third JA Discovery Center in Forsyth County, and in 2020, Engineered Floors provided the capital resources needed to construct the fourth in Dalton. As the appetite for JA’s programs has grown across the state, so has JA’s expansion to reach Georgia’s students.

On the heels of opening the JA Colonial Group Discovery Center in Savannah in 2022, funding emerged from the Columbia County and Richmond County school systems to build the latest center in the Augusta area, which opened several months ago. With these 6 centers, JA now serves nearly 50% of middle school students across the state.

Simultaneously, JA developed the 3DE education model to re-engineer high school. This program offers high school students a modified curriculum that incorporates into the classroom important business and soft skills needed for today’s workplace. Georgia now has 15 schools using this model.

Though much has changed since 1949, JA remains dedicated to inspiring and preparing Georgia’s youth for success in a global economy…and in life.

Junior Achievement and Staples Cause for Caring, Inc. Join Forces to Empower Youth Nationwide Through Multi-Year Grant Program

Atlanta, Georgia – Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia proudly announces its groundbreaking partnership with Staples Cause for Caring, Inc. (Staples), uniting efforts in an innovative nationwide initiative across eight local JA operations. Together, we are igniting a transformative approach to education, enhancing work and career readiness skills, and fostering a pathway toward a brighter, more prosperous future.

This strategic collaboration is built on a foundation of comprehensive lessons designed to equip students with the essential knowledge and confidence required for success in their careers. Our joint endeavor embodies Staples’ unwavering commitment to philanthropy and community engagement, setting the stage for a multi-year journey of support. The partnership’s inaugural step involves a substantial planned gift of $250,000 for 2023, with the potential for further contributions in subsequent years, subject to collaborative evaluations.

This dynamic alliance will propel a comprehensive suite of programs, strategically tailored to elevate the education and professional readiness of our youth. Deployed in specific markets, these initiatives act as catalysts for youth empowerment and community growth. Our sponsorship structure bolsters JA educational programs like JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, and 3DE by Junior Achievement are all geared toward nurturing the talents of our future leaders.

United by a shared dedication to youth development and community enrichment, Staples and Junior Achievement of Georgia exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration. Together, we are prepared to drive tangible change, equipping young individuals with the tools they need to thrive and excel in an ever-evolving world.

About Junior Achievement of Georgia
Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia is a business-integrated education partner with expertise in experiential learning that successfully develops key mindsets and skills for students to lead meaningful and successful lives. JA’s high-impact programs drive long-term outcomes in areas of financial literacy, career readiness, and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, and are they delivered by corporate and community volunteers. JA of Georgia offers multiple programs, with a focus on middle and high school students, including JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, and 3DE by Junior Achievement. JA of Georgia serves more than 100,000 students statewide in an average year. JA of Georgia has offices in Atlanta, Cumming, Dalton, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, and Savannah. For more information, visit georgia.ja.org