Junior Achievement and Gensler Announce Groundbreaking of “Junior Achievement Finance Park” in Fairfax County, VA

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA--Junior Achievement and Gensler announce the groundbreaking of the Junior Achievement Finance Park (top left rendering) on June 11, 2009, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

On-site camera and interview opportunities will be available with state and local officials, Fairfax County middle school students, and officials from Junior Achievement, Fairfax County Public Schools, Gensler and Capital One Financial Corporation.

Finance Park represents Junior Achievement’s major commitment to financial literacy education to Greater Washington and underscores the importance of its vision to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

Junior Achievement (JA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to students through experience-rich, hands-on programs. Their student programs have been so successful that Fairfax County Public Schools has made the Junior Achievement curriculum mandatory for all Fairfax County students.

Junior Achievement Finance Park will be located on the campus of Frost Middle School in the heart of Fairfax County and is scheduled to open in early 2010. Finance Park will teach students the important guidelines of personal budgeting and real-life adult responsibilities through an experience similar to a “mini-city”.

Gensler designed a gracious, modern facility that will house a marketplace of branded storefronts. The city atmosphere will allow students the opportunity to apply financial and economical decision-making skills in a real world, but safe “city” setting.

Contact: Julia Chappell, Gensler, 202-721-5341, julia_chappell@gensler.com