LOCAL JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT HISTORY

 Junior Achievement of Pensacola, Inc. was chartered in 1958.  Fred Gronemeyer of Monsanto and Theo Baars, Jr. are credited with bringing Junior Achievement into Northwest Florida.  This franchise now named Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, includes:  Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Washington Counties.  During the 2002-2003 program year, over 5,500 students participated with a total budget over $215,000.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF BAY COUNTY

In 1990, a group of Bay County business leaders organized a committee in cooperation with Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, Inc. and the National Headquarters to better serve the local needs of Bay County students and the business community.

The first meeting of the Bay County Board of Directors transpired in June, 1990.  An operating agreement was entered into which outlines the role JA of NWFL, Inc. plays in the areas of program servicing, training and management assistance.  The agreement was updated in July 2002 and outlines the responsibilities of each board.  A District Manager residing in Panama City coordinates the fundraising and consultant placement for Bay and Washington Counties.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF OKALOOSA

In 1993, a group of Okaloosa business leaders organized an advisory committee for bringing the Junior Achievement program to the Okaloosa and Walton County area.  This group has disbanded. There are no plans to run programs in Okaloosa/Walton Countries in 2003-2004.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NATIONAL

Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, Inc., with an office in Pensacola, has an operating agreement with Junior Achievement, Inc. with offices in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The organization was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, President of American Telephone and Telegraph; Horace Moses, President of Strathmore Paper Company; and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts.  In 1920, Moses, considered to be the organization’s principal founder, was named first chairman of the board.

Operating on a $12 million annual budget, the national office provides strategic direction, leadership, training opportunities and support to over 1,350 employees in 150 local operations in all 50 states.  Policy and direction for each affiliate is set by local volunteer boards of directors made up of over 6,000 business, education and civic leaders.  More than 4 million students in 175,000 classrooms across America were enrolled in Junior Achievement programs last year.  Junior Achievement International reached an additional over 1 million students in over 100 countries last year.