The province’s Junior Achievement chapter will welcome three new members to its JA Business Hall of Fame tonight at its annual Gala Dinner and Induction Ceremony at the St. John’s Convention Centre.
As much as the event serves to celebrate the business excellence of this year’s inductees — Shorefast foundation CEO Zita Cobb, Killick Capital founder Mark Dobbin and Columbus Interntional Inc. founder Brendan Paddick — it also serves to accomplish so much more for Junior Achievement and the province’s next generation of leaders.
“The event also creates role models for the youth we serve, we preserve the legacy of entrepreneurship in the province and it is a significant fundraiser that supports the work that we do throughout the province,” says Newfoundland and Labrador chapter president and CEO Sandra Patterson.
Last year, the event brought in close to $300,000 in profit and Patterson says with over 650 confirmed guests tonight — and more still looking for tickets — they expect to set a new revenue record this year.
“We have incredibly loyal donors who support JA and this event and we couldn’t do it, quite frankly, without that corporate support for financial contributions as well as volunteer engagement.”
In addition to supporting its regular programming focused on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship for youth, the funds raised will help Junior Achievement re-energize its curriculum and further develop program assets, particularly on the digital side.
“All programs are very experiential, but we’re integrating more technology into the programming and that’s working quite nicely,” says Patterson.
“We’ve revised the number of the programs and we’re continuing to look at building the program base so that we are creating opportunities for students to have touch points at various points from primary and elementary to junior high to high school.”
As for this year’s inductees, Patterson says the trio embodies the creativity and tenacity that Junior Achievement programs try to develop in youth.
“As an economy, as a province, as a country, we need to foster more competitiveness, we need to get young people thinking innovatively, whether they’re going to become entrepreneurs or bring entrepreneurial skill and thinking to your business.”
Co-MCs for the event are junior achievers Riley Shea and Maria Downton.
