Junior Achievement of North Florida (JANFL) has announced that VOYA has committed to becoming a JA Finance Park trade booth partner, supporting one of the signature learning experiences planned for the future JA Experiential Learning Center (ELC).
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping young people build financial confidence, develop informed decision-making skills and prepare for successful futures.
JA Finance Park is an immersive financial literacy experience that places middle and high school students in realistic life scenarios where they must make decisions related to careers, income, budgeting, saving, insurance, taxes and long-term financial planning. Through hands-on learning, students gain a deeper understanding of how education, career choices and financial habits influence future opportunities.
“VOYA’s commitment reflects a shared belief that financial confidence starts with experience,” said Shannon Italia, president of Junior Achievement of North Florida. “Through JA Finance Park, students don’t just learn about budgeting, saving and planning for the future; they practice those skills in a realistic environment that helps them understand how today’s decisions shape tomorrow’s opportunities. We are grateful for VOYA’s partnership as we work to create transformative learning experiences for students across Northeast Florida.”
The partnership reflects the longstanding relationship between VOYA and Junior Achievement of North Florida, including the leadership of Kellie Desrosiers, vice president of customer loyalty and engagement at VOYA and a member of the Junior Achievement of North Florida Board of Directors.
“At VOYA, we believe financial resilience begins with education, preparation and informed decision-making,” said Desrosiers. “JA Finance Park provides students with an opportunity to experience real-world financial choices in a way that is engaging, practical and memorable. We are proud to support an initiative that helps young people build the skills and confidence needed to navigate their financial futures.”
The JA Experiential Learning Center, planned for Florida State College at Jacksonville's downtown campus, will serve as a regional hub for experiential learning in financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship. The facility will feature JA BizTown, JA Finance Park and the JA Dream Accelerator, creating hands-on learning experiences for students throughout Northeast Florida.
As an early corporate partner, VOYA is helping shape the student experience within JA Finance Park and supporting the development of a regional asset expected to serve more than 30,000 students annually once fully operational.
Currently in the planning and fundraising phase, the JA Experiential Learning Center represents a transformational investment in the future workforce and economic vitality of Northeast Florida. The project will bring together educators, volunteers, businesses and community partners to help students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities while strengthening workforce readiness, economic mobility and lifelong success.
For more information about the JA Experiential Learning Center, go to www.janflelc.org.
