Junior Achievement of North Florida received a $250,000 capital investment from the Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock Foundation in support of the JA Experiential Learning Center to be built at Florida State College at Jacksonville\u2019s Downtown campus.<\/p>\n
The gift will support the general capital construction of the 34,000-square-foot, $15 million center. The facility is designed to serve more than 30,000 students each year through hands-on experiences in financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
\u201cJennifer and I believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and build a successful future. The Experiential Learning Center will provide students with real-world experiences that inspire confidence, expand career possibilities, and equip them with skills that will serve them for a lifetime. We are proud to support a project that will have a lasting impact on our community and future generations,\u201d Ward said in a July 28 news release.<\/p>\n
The ELC will house JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, programs that allow students to experience business and personal finance simulations. Students learn how to manage money, explore careers, operate businesses and make financial decisions while connecting classroom learning to real-world application.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly grateful to Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock for their generosity and their shared belief in the potential of every young person in our community,\u201d Shannon Italia, president of Junior Achievement of North Florida, said in the release.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir investment is about far more than a building. It is an investment in opportunity \u2014 helping thousands of students discover career pathways, develop critical life skills, and envision brighter futures. We hope this gift inspires others to join us in making this transformational project a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through their foundation, retired CSX Corp. CEO Michael Ward and his spouse, Jennifer Glock, support initiatives that strengthen education, expand opportunity and improve the quality of life in Northeast Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael and Jennifer have consistently demonstrated their commitment to investing in initiatives that create lasting impact,\u201d Italia said. \u201cTheir leadership and confidence in this project sends a powerful message about the importance of preparing young people for successful futures and will help inspire additional philanthropic investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Experiential Learning Center represents the largest initiative in Junior Achievement of North Florida\u2019s history, the organization said.<\/p>\n
At full capacity, it will serve students from Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The $15 million capital campaign is being supported by corporations, foundations, government partners and individual philanthropists throughout the region as Junior Achievement works toward a 2027 groundbreaking.<\/p>\n
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