All posts tagged: Huizenga Center

JA Diamond Anniversary Raises $600,000 for Programs

Junior Achievement of South Florida held its JA Diamond Anniversary Celebration, presented by Delta Air Lines, on Friday, April 5th, at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion. The unforgettable evening celebrated Junior Achievement of South Florida’s 60-year legacy of inspiring 1 million youth in Broward and south Palm Beach counties. A special part of the evening was inducting the 2019 JA Business Hall of Fame Laureates and honoring two outstanding community leaders.

Congratulations Laureates: Jim Allen, Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming; Bob Birdsong, OK Generators; Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises; and Steve Sadaka, StevenDouglas; 2019 Melissa Aiello Character Award recipient Lori Chevy, Bank of America; and 2019 Huizenga Lifetime Legacy Award recipient Lorraine Thomas.

Guests enjoyed a stroll down the “Hall of Fame” featuring past Laureates and a timeline of JA’s 60 year history. Some of the highlights of the evening were the Red Carpet Experience provided by DEX Imaging, a cocktail reception in the Celebrity Cruises Diamond Lounge, a Champagne Toast offered by TD Bank, selfies with our sponsor Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, lobster tail and tenderloin filet dinner, dessert and coffee stations with dancing to music by The W’s and valet services sponsored by JM Lexus and JM Family Enterprises Inc.

“On behalf of the 1 million students served to date, we would like to thank our sponsors, supporters and all attendees who shared this special evening with us. It was a huge success, raising over $600,000 for JA programming that inspires and prepares young people for the future. Thank you,” Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO.

JA Diamond Anniversary Raises $600,000 for Programs
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2,000 Students Attend Interactive Career Exploration Program

More Than 2,000 Students Will Attend JA Inspire –  An Interactive Career Exploration Program

City of Coconut Creek, Florida – On Friday, February 8, starting at 8:15 a.m., Junior Achievement of South Florida is hosting JA Inspire, an interactive career exploration program, in partnership with educators and industry leaders. The event will be held at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Foundation Pavilion and will begin with a community breakfast with community and business leaders.

At the community breakfast, there will be a press conference to highlight the JA Fellows Company entrepreneurship program. The community will hear from the JA DHSP Enterprises team representing Dillard High School, about their unique product, “DHSP Safe Block,” that was inspired by the recent tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Hear about how their product, which covers door windows to deter a shooter, may be a potential solution to keeping students safe in the classroom during a safety threat.

“It is very time consuming for teachers in an emergency situation to find tape and paper to cover their windows,” said DHSP team representative. “Our product can help teachers prepare quickly in an emergency.”

More than 2,000 students will be participating in the JA Inspire program. During the simulation at JA World, students will be introduced to high growth/high paying careers in industries including construction, health, marine, aviation, finance, automotive, technology, hospitality and government.

“JA Inspire is designed to have a deep impact on the students as they begin to explore their future career choices. Before the day of the simulation, students participate in 3 hours of career readiness curriculum. This combination or classroom curriculum and interactive simulation is what makes JA programs unique,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President/CEO.

More than 40 exhibitor partners will participate and have the opportunity to connect and inspire students through an interactive experience. Business representatives will also share information about their industry, career paths, job responsibilities and business culture.

JA Inspire is sponsored by BBVA Compass, Body Tek Enterprises, City of Pompano Beach, TD Bank and United Way of Broward County. The current confirmed exhibitors include Allegiance Crane and Equipment,  Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., AT&T, Atlantic Technical College, Broward College, Broward Health, City of Coconut Creek SWAT, City Furniture, City of Margate Fire Rescue, City of Pompano Beach, Cliff Berry, Inc., Construction Association of South Florida, Construction Executives Association, Exotech, EY, Florida Atlantic University, Humane Society of Broward County, Jazwares, JM Family Enterprises, Kaufman Rossin, Marine Industries Association, Microsoft, Moss Construction, Nova Southeastern University, Publix, SalesForce, Stiles Corporation, Stryker, Suffolk, Suntrust, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, Wild Lime Adventures, WPLG, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines Corps.

For more information about JA Inspire, visit www.jasouthflorida.org/programs/ja-inspire/.

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About JA Fellows Company Entrepreneurship Program:

JA Fellows is an in-depth, highly intensive leadership and entrepreneurship program for high school students.

Students gain real-world business experience by working in groups of 20-25, conceptualizing, capitalizing, and managing their own small businesses. Throughout this real-life entrepreneurship experience, students develop an entrepreneurial mindset which includes skills such as communication, financial management, problem-solving, collaboration and time management skills.

Mentors, in teams of four, coach students through the process of starting and running a small business. “Spark Tank” competitions (Shark Tank-like events) are judged by local business leaders. At year-end, companies participate in a local competition for awards, and a chance to compete in a national competition in Washington, D.C. in June. For more information about the program, visit www.jasouthflorida.org/ja-fellows.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,000 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach Counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion on the Broward College North Campus, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. Over the past 60 years, Junior Achievement of South Florida has served over 1,000,000 students. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org.

2,000 Students Attend Interactive Career Exploration Program
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In Loving Memory of Wayne Huizenga

Dear Friends,

This past Thursday (March 22, 2018), the community lost one of the world’s most savvy and successful businessmen and a remarkable community advocate and supporter. Wayne Huizenga helped shape this community and has left a huge mark on so many individuals and organizations.

To say that the largest Junior Achievement educational center in the world would not exist in Broward County if not for Wayne Huizenga, is an understatement. Along with his wife, Marti, Mr. Huizenga was the catalyst in making the vision of JA World Huizenga Center a reality.

Like with all his projects, both business and charitable, Mr. Huizenga took on the creation of JA World with determination, persistence and persuasion. He often used his private helicopter to take community and business leaders to visit other JA facilities around the country. His influence, combined with Marti’s passion to “teach children to fish, rather than give them a fish”, was key to building this unique educational asset on the Broward College north campus and to securing an agreement with the Broward County School Board that every 5th and 8th grader would participate in JA programming.

The mission of Junior Achievement is so aligned with the values and entrepreneurial spirit of Wayne Huizenga. Mr. Huizenga, the only person in history to have founded three Fortune 500 companies, was named the 2005 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of The Year. Through our JA Fellows entrepreneurship program, with which he was so impressed, we will continue to foster his passion for taking ideas to exceptional levels in our students.

At Junior Achievement of South Florida, we feel a profound loss for this amazing man who had such an impact on our organization. On behalf of the students, board of directors and staff of Junior Achievement of South Florida we feel so fortunate and honored to have gained his continued support, confidence, loyalty and commitment. Mr. Huizenga’s spirit and legacy will live on at JA World.

We express our heartfelt condolences to the entire Huizenga family for their huge loss.

Laurie Sallarulo
President & CEO

In lieu of flowers, the family has named Junior Achievement of South Florida, NSU’s Huizenga College of Business, Boys & Girls Club and Cleveland Clinic to receive donations in Mr. Huizenga’s honor.

In Loving Memory of Wayne Huizenga
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