• Provide access for all Carmel Clay Schools fifth grade students to attend JA BizTown, a simulated city where kids are an "adult for a day" while learning about free enterprise, personal financial management, and the role of business in a community.

• Allow eighth grade students to participate in JA JobSpark, a hands-on career exploration fair that allows students to learn what skills are needed for jobs that are available in today's world, especially those that are in demand in Indiana.

• Allow high school students to have the opportunity to engage in a JA 4E Fair, which highlights post-secondary options, including education, employment, enlistment, and entrepreneurship.  Examples:  Trades Speaker Series & State Bank Start Me Up Cup

The CEF executive director, Jennifer Penix, worked closely with Dr. Amy Dudley, CCS Assistant Superintendent, and Jennifer Burk, President and CEO of Junior Achievement to create the ACHIEVE initiative, which is possible because of the success of CEF’s Ghosts and Goblins 5k/2k race in October and the Taste of Carmel in March, as well as investment from community partners in support of expanding the impact of CEF to engage more students.

Dr. Dudley says:  “Being able to integrate the Junior Achievement curriculum that meets our state standards in multiple areas is an essential part of this endeavor. Most importantly, providing the opportunity for more than 1,500 students to be fully engaged in both JA BizTown and JA JobSpark in 2022-2023 elevates the learning opportunities for our students, further preparing them for their own future success. We appreciate that the foundation has been instrumental in this partnership.”

Thank you to our community partners who have invested in the CEF Achieve Initiative which includes JA Biztown funding:  Church Church Hittle & Antrim, City of Carmel, Fanning Howey, J.C. Hart, Kroger Gardis & Regas, LLP, Metronet, & The Skillman Corporation.