Arrow Electronics Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Junior Achievement Education Facility
DENVER, March 28, 2022 /3BL Media/ - Arrow Electronics is celebrating the groundbreaking of the Junior Achievement (JA) Free Enterprise Center, a new education facility that will allow the nonprofit to reach 90,000 more students by 2025. The two-story, 25,000-square-foot center will deliver innovative financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship programming free of charge to students in Colorado and Wyoming.
Arrow is a supporter of the center, which will house two, state-of-the art learning labs: Dream Accelerator and Finance Park. The Dream Accelerator will offer students the opportunity to explore career options tailored to their interests and aptitudes and learn more about the stories of Colorado’s entrepreneurs. In JA Finance Park, students will be challenged to develop and manage a household budget through a highly interactive, reality-based simulation recognized by Harvard University as a best practice in teaching young people how to be financially literate.
“The JA Free Enterprise Center will be a game changer for Front Range education, engaging middle and high school students in high-tech, interactive simulations that will fire their imaginations and help them discover career paths, set practical goals so they can gain the knowledge and skills to attain those careers, and understand how to manage their finances.” said Junior Achievement President and CEO Robin Wise.
Arrow is providing technology and content support for the center, which is slated to open during the 2022-23 school year.
“We believe strongly that Innovation is going to be a key skill for the workforce of tomorrow. Helping Junior Achievement develop programming that allows students to learn how to use technology to solve problems aligns perfectly with our goal to build a smarter tomorrow,” said Joe Verrengia, Arrow’s global director of corporate social responsibility programs.
Arrow is a longtime supporter of Junior Achievement. Two years ago, the company announced its sponsorship of a JA initiative that will deliver increased programming to K-12 students in economically-disadvantaged communities in Denver. The company was also a past presenting sponsor for Junior Achievement Business Week, a week-long residential business “boot camp” experience for students in grades 9-12. Arrow employees have also participated in Bowl-A-Thons to raise money for scholarships to send students to the camp.
JA’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. The organization expects to reach more than 72,000 students during the 2021-22 school year.
About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 220,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2021 sales of $34 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com.
About Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain exists so that all kids, regardless of background, receive the tools and build the practical skills they need to build a future for themselves in which they are optimistic, economically self-sufficient, and determined, with a belief in the power of free enterprise. The organization accomplishes this through a network of corporate and community volunteers who deliver career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship lessons. These programs are free of cost to schools and families. For more information, visit www.JAColorado.org.
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