Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina receives $75,000 Power:Ed grant
February 8, 2024
Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina (JAGSC), a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy, has been awarded a $75,000 grant from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan Corporation.
The funds will be used to sustain the growth of JA’s Inspire Virtual program for a second year, offering a career development program to 1140 SC middle and high school students in spring 2024. JA Inspire Virtual is more than a career fair: It brings together the business community and local schools and is designed to help launch students into their future—high school, college, and careers beyond.
Students will be introduced to companies throughout the state and the career options that exist at each company. This dynamic career development experience provides next generation of SC workers access to high-growth careers and employers, post-secondary education opportunities, and interactive career activities. It will be available for 90 days for students to access.
Additionally, this grant will support the launch of JAGSC’s newest program, JA Finance Park Mobile®. JA Finance Park® is an innovation in education designed to prepare South Carolina’s youth for life and work in the adult world. This unique experience combines in-class learning with a visit to an immersive mobile facility. From goal setting to saving, budgeting, shopping, and bill paying, students will step into the future and catch a glimpse of what’s possible if they take control of their financial capacity. Junior Achievement’s capstone program for personal financial planning and career exploration, JA Finance Park® helps students build a foundation on which they can make empowered financial decisions that last a lifetime.
Junior Achievement of Greater SC President, Casey Pash said, “Because of SC Student Loan Corporation and its philanthropy, Power:Ed, students from across South Carolina will be better equipped with the tools they need to enter the workforce. We are so grateful for investors like Power:Ed who believe in investing in South Carolina students to help prepare them for a brighter future.”
“SC Student Loan Corporation is proud to support these important programs helping SC students build their financial planning and budgeting skills and explore in-demand career pathways,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons. “We hope it inspires SC youth to continue their education and training in the state and fulfill their career potential with SC companies, while remaining as debt free as possible.”
In FY2023-24 Power:Ed will award $1,000,000 in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness nonprofit organizations. In this second quarter, Power:Ed has awarded eight grants (including this grant to JAGSC), totaling $287,000. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is April 1, 2024.
About Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina
For 54 years, Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater SC has been preparing students for the future workforce in 43 counties across South Carolina with JA learning experiences. This school year JA expects to reach over 36,000 students. JA envisions a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities through learning experiences focused on three critical life skills, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness. JA’s strategy is to recruit corporate and community volunteers who serve as mentors and role models to deliver the statistically proven JA curriculum to students in their classrooms or virtually during the school day.
About Power:Ed
Founded in 2019, Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income, minority, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Organizations serving middle school through post-college talent who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, should visit power-ed.org.
