Junior Achievement of the Heartland (JA) is growing closer to the fundraising goal for its new state-of-the-art Junior Achievement Inspiration Center to be built at the Vibrant Credit Union Corporate Center in Moline. CREDIT JA
Junior Achievement of the Heartland (JA) is growing closer to the fundraising goal for its new state-of-the-art Junior Achievement Inspiration Center to be built at the Vibrant Credit Union Corporate Center in Moline. In a news release this week, JA said the Giving Tree Campaign has already raised $2.5 million toward its total goal of […]
Junior Achievement of the Heartland (JA) is growing closer to the fundraising goal for its new state-of-the-art Junior Achievement Inspiration Center to be built at the Vibrant Credit Union Corporate Center in Moline.In a news release this week, JA said the Giving Tree Campaign has already raised $2.5 million toward its total goal of $3.25 million. The funding will finance building renovations including the educational and programmatic elements of the building.
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Junior Achievement of the Heartland (JA) is growing closer to the fundraising goal for its new state-of-the-art Junior Achievement Inspiration Center to be built at the Vibrant Credit Union Corporate Center in Moline. CREDIT JA OF THE HEARTLAND
Dougal Nelson, (middle) president and CEO, of Junior Achievement of the Heartland, pointed out some of the features of the new Junior Achievement Inspiration Center on a drawing of the center on Tuesday. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Dougal Nelson, president and CEO, of Junior Achievement of the Heartland, greets people on Tuesday, Sept. 19, during a news conference to launch a fundraising campaign for the new Junior Achievement Inspiration Center in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A crowd of more than 100 people gathers on Tuesday to hear plans for the new Junior Achievement Inspiration Center in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
JA recently kicked off a micro campaign within its capital campaign with an assist from the Moline Regional Community Foundation. Rooted in the belief of giving back, the MRCF is supporting what will become an on-site Giving Tree inside the new Inspiration Center. The Giving Tree at JA BizTown will be a hub where JA students can learn about philanthropy. Through the MRCF, the late Tom and Karen Getz established an endowment fund to help area youth understand the importance of civic responsibility. The fund now is offering an initial $2,500 match for those who wish to support the new JA Inspiration Center. The center, which will be built on the southwest corner of Vibrant’s 6600 44th Ave. headquarters, will provide a new home for the nonprofit’s capstone programs, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, now located in downtown Davenport. The center, being renovated by Davenport-based Russell, is expected to be completed late summer or early fall. Russell began construction last week.The 13,000-square-foot area, JA said, will increase space for its capstone experiences by 30% and allow JA to grow its reach by an additional 3,000 students each year. Through JA’s BizTown and JA Finance Park program, the Moline-based organization has served more than 8,000 students in 4th to 9th grades annually. JA of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois with experiences in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work and career readiness.To learn more about JA Inspiration Center and to donate to the capital campaign, visit JA’s website here. Watch the campaign website for regular updates on progress, success stories, and ways to engage with JA’s mission.Leaders with JA first announced plans for the Inspiration Center and launched the capital campaign on Sept. 19, 2023. "We are excited to embark on this journey toward the new inspiring and captivating facility and we invite our supporters, partners, and the entire community to join us in making a meaningful difference," Dougal Nelson, JA’s president and CEO, said at the kickoff event. "The Capital Campaign is a testament to our dedication to prepare students for financial independence.”Following participation in the JA BizTown and JA Finance Park simulations, students are able to:
Discuss the roles they play as citizens, workers, and consumers in a community and relate those roles to the free enterprise system.
Discuss the importance of citizen rights and responsibilities within a community.
Build money management skills through a practical knowledge of economic concepts and banking practices.
Develop an understanding of basic business practices and responsibilities.
Display the soft skills necessary for successful participation in the world of work.
“Investments in the JA Inspiration Center are investments for our future workforce and future leaders, both of which are essential for our region to thrive,” Brian Duffy, CEO of Per Mar Security Services, and JA’s governing board chair, said in the recent release.
