75 years of Empowering Lives
One Powerful journey
Since 1950, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio has grown from a single office into a regional movement helping hundreds of thousands of students build the skills and confidence to take control of their future.
Every milestone, from launching JA BizTown (formerly known as Exchange City) in 2001 to opening a second Learning Center in Newark almost 25 years later, reflects our commitment to economic mobility and real-world learning.
We want your story to be part of the celebration
To mark our 75th anniversary, we’re collecting stories that showcase the impact we’ve had over the years.
Tell us how JA shaped your path, what the experience meant to you, or how you’ve seen it make a difference.
Stories will be featured on our website, in newsletters, across social media, and throughout our learning centers, bringing our mission to life for the next 75 years.
Submit Your Story Here.
Recently Shared
“While JA is intended to empower and educate the next generation, each time I leave a volunteer event I also feel empowered. Whether it’s the students raising their hands before the question is even asked, or them running to you, “will you teach fourth [grade above] grade next year?”, I feel overwhelmed with happiness to have made an impact in the life/lives of the next generation.”
Adam Pelka
Volunteer
“This was my first year as a teacher. Coming in and developing the curriculum for a CTE course is not the easiest thing, but Junior Achievement made it much easier! Junior Achievement has done an amazing job doing everything they can to grow students’ minds with an entire world of possibilities and careers.”
Educator
Hamilton Middle School
“As parents, my wife and I have always strived to teach our children the value of doing things the right way: hard work, saving and investing in the future, and finding passion in life and in your career. Now I have a chance to give back to others in the same way by volunteering and supporting the Junior Achievement mission.”
Mark E. Thompson
Retired SEVP and Director of Bank Operations & JA Board Member
“As adults, one of the best gifts we can provide for children is the gift of hope. JA programs create hope, inspire children and offer the tools for students to realize that hope as they grow into successful adults.”
Larry Grischow
JA Board Chair
your story is our legacy
Thank you for being part of 75 years of empowering lives. Here’s to 75 more!
Connect with Us.
🏦Learning Center Sponsor Highlight - Huntington Bank💵
Our JA BizTown Shop for Huntington National Bank allows students to learn more about banking and budgeting with hands-on learning experiences. This experience allows students to run ATMs and tellers booths so other student ...companies can pay off business loans by the end of their first day of being an adult!
#HuntingtonBank #JABizTown #JuniorAchievement #JABizTownSponsor
While celebrating out 75th year of empowering lives, we were excited to hear from Educator and JA Alumni MaryKate Whalen about her experiences with Junior Achievement!
Tap the link in bio to read more stories like MaryKate's or share your own📲
#EmpoweringLives #75YearsofJA... #ShareYourStory #JABizTown
Our JA BizTown construction teams are always throwing a fit 😉👷 @robertsonconstruction
#JABizTown #volunteering #CareerReadiness #JuniorAchievement
❤️🩹 Learning Center Sponsor Highlight - Healthcare Career Collaborative of Central Ohio @hccoco__ 🩺
Our JA Finance Park pod for the Healthcare Career Collaborative of Central Ohio brings healthcare career exploration directly to students. This hands-on discovery enriches ...student experience and allows them to envision a potential career path.
Proof that the magic of JA BizTown comes from the students ✨
Our Columbus Learning Center only has ONE JA BizTown Volunteer day open for the rest of the year! Sign up with the link in bio to claim your spot before it's too late 📲
...https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4AA4AD23AA8-61511195-121#/
#VolunteerOpportunity #columbusohio #JuniorAchievement #JABizTown
HOT OFF THE PRESS! 🗞
JA of Central Ohio is looking for individual volunteers for the Columbus Learning Center's JA BizTown on Wednesday, January 21st. Click the link in bio to sign up!
#Volunteer2026 #juniorachievement #VolunteerOpportunity #JABizTown
📣The OFFICIAL Junior Achievement of Central Ohio 2026 In and Out list‼ Click the link in bio to stay on trend and sign up for a group volunteer spot😉
#Volunteer2026 #InsAndOuts2026 #Trending #juniorachievement #VolunteerOpportunity
We want YOU ☝ to adopt a JA Career Speaker Series spot this January! Click the link in bio to tell students about your career journey and help lead them towards a choice-filled future 🎓✨
#JuniorAchievement #JACareerSpeakerSeries #Volunteering #VolunteerOpportunity #Volunteer2026
Three skills taught at JA BizTown that would prepare you to thrive in the Stranger Things Season 5 Universe ⋆₊˚🚲🕰️🔦📺⋆₊˚
What other soft skills would help you survive in the Stranger Things universe?
#StrangerThings #StrangerThingsSeason5 #JuniorAchievement ...#SoftSkills ##JABizTown
