Junior Achievement awarded $5,000 Community Foundation grant

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 20, 2022) – Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida (JA) recently received a $5,000 grant from The Community Foundation (formerly the Cape Coral Community Foundation) to provide workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programming in Cape Coral schools.
“Generous donors make it possible for us to help provide students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in their careers and in life,” said Angela Fisher, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. “JA offers students the opportunity to network with local business leaders who guide lessons, mentor, inspire young people, and share insight and experiences while serving as role models. Programs like JA Inspire wouldn’t be possible without the support of grants like this one from The Community Foundation and its generous donors.”

Middle and high school students in Cape Coral will be better prepared for their transition into adulthood and the working world with a higher rate of success as the result of JA programs supported by the Community Foundation grant. JA work readiness programs include JA Inspire, JA Career Connect, JA Career Exploration Fairs, JA It’s My Future, JA Career Success, JA Job Shadows, JA Career Speaker Series, and JA Economics for Success. Alumni of these programs have a track record of earning a college degree, having confidence in managing money, and achieving career success. Many have started their own business.
According to President and CEO Michael Chatman, education and connection are the keys to fulfilling The Community Foundation’s directive to become the Global Center for Generosity.
“Giving isn’t just about writing checks. It’s about relationships and advocating for people and organizations that are doing good in the world, as well as those who want to help them. That’s why Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida is a perfect fit for a Community Foundation grant,” Chatman said.
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit community organization created through financial gifts by various generous civic-minded companies and individuals. The organization was formed to help donors positively impact their community and beyond. It works to grow philanthropy and strengthen society by encouraging endowments, addressing the public’s needs, and providing community leadership. For more information, call 239-542-5594 or visit CapeCoralCF.org.
Founded in 1994, JA SWFL has been impacting the region’s future workforce for over 28 years. Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with classroom business volunteers during the 2021-2022 school year to provide nearly 135,000 hours of instruction to nearly 14,800 students in 589 classes throughout Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties. For more information or to help support Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, please visit www.JASWFL.org, call 239-225-2590, or email info@jaswfl.org.
About Junior Achievement USA®
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 104 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.Locally, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with classroom business volunteers during the 2021-2022 school year to provide nearly 135,000 hours of instruction to nearly 14,800 students in 589 classes throughout Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties. For moreinformation on Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, visit
www.JASWFL.org, call (239) 225-2590 or email info@jaswfl.org.
About The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation, also known as the Global Center for Generosity, is a nonprofit organization created to help generous civic-minded donors who make a positive impact on their community and beyond. Now in its 45th year, the organization continuously works to grow philanthropy and strengthen society by encouraging endowments, addressing public needs and providing community leadership. For more information, call 239-542-5594 or visit CapeCoralCF.org.

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