The JAGHR 60th Anniversary Fund

Purpose of the 60th Anniversary Fund

The 60th Anniversary Fund is intended to support long-term capacity building and help position Junior Achievement for future growth and impact, rather than routine operating expenses. This fund will advance leadership, infrastructure, and strategic initiatives intended to strengthen outcomes for young people across Hampton Roads.

1. Education Leadership and Organizational Capacity (Near-Term Priority)

A primary priority is establishing senior-level education leadership and supporting infrastructure, including philanthropic support to launch this role and strengthen its early operating capacity, to:
-Strengthen program quality and consistency across school divisions
-Deepen partnerships with educators and corporate volunteers
-Expand programming on the Peninsula, in under-resourced schools, and through partnerships with nonprofits serving youth with limited economic mobility (e.g., foster youth, low-income students, and other vulnerable populations)
-Develop coordinated learning pathways connecting financial literacy, career exploration, and workforce readiness

This investment is designed to support organizational capacity building and strengthen sustainable, high-quality delivery as Junior Achievement continues to scale thoughtfully across the region.

2. Experiential Learning Center (ELC) – Exploration and Options

Junior Achievement is exploring the feasibility of a dual-purpose JA Finance Park and JA BizTown experiential learning center, similar to the Purdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury, Maryland. This is a long-term opportunity that would require significant capital investment and broad community partnership.
Initial work is expected to focus on feasibility, demand, and partnership development. Based on these findings, two potential pathways may be considered:

Permanent Experiential Learning Center: A fixed-site dual-purpose facility requiring a multi-million-dollar capital campaign and operating model.
Mobile Experiential Learning Center: A traveling immersive learning unit to serve schools directly, with a current estimated initial acquisition cost of approximately $300,000 (operating costs additional).

The 60th Anniversary Fund would support planning, partnership development, and early-stage strategic readiness, not immediate capital construction.

3. Strategic Readiness and Sustainable Growth Infrastructure

Additional investments are designed to position Junior Achievement for thoughtful growth and strengthen our ability to track and communicate outcomes over time. These efforts will support stronger partnerships with schools, employers, and youth-serving organizations and position the organization to expand high-impact programming as conditions and resources allow.

Long-Term Impact

The 60th Anniversary Fund is intended to support efforts to improve student outcomes in financial capability and career readiness, expand equitable access to high-impact learning experiences, and strengthen the regional workforce pipeline. These investments will help position Hampton Roads for immersive experiential learning opportunities when feasible and aligned with community priorities.

A Legacy Investment

A gift to the 60th Anniversary Fund is an investment in leadership, infrastructure, and strategic readiness—laying the groundwork for transformative opportunities for students for decades to come.