Junior Achievement of North Florida (JANFL) today announced a $1 million cumulative investment from EverBank in support of the future JA Experiential Learning Center (ELC) – the largest commitment to the project to date and a defining step forward as JANFL builds momentum toward construction.
Through this leadership investment, EverBank will serve as the Presenting Sponsor of JA BizTown® within the ELC and will be featured through a dedicated storefront experience inside the simulation.
EverBank’s investment reflects a deep alignment with its EverBank Builds® platform, which focuses on expanding access to financial education, strengthening communities, and helping individuals build long-term financial futures.
The JA Experiential Learning Center – planned for Downtown Jacksonville – will bring together JA BizTown and JA Finance Park to deliver immersive, real-world learning experiences for students across Northeast Florida. At full scale, the Center is expected to serve approximately 30,000 students annually.
Within JA BizTown, students step into the roles of employees, business leaders, and consumers – making decisions, managing finances, and experiencing how a local economy operates. In JA Finance Park, students are challenged to make financial decisions based on a simulated life scenario that includes a job, income, and family responsibilities. The program emphasizes budgeting, saving, credit management, and career exploration.
“EverBank’s investment represents a pivotal moment for this project,” said Shannon Italia, President of Junior Achievement of North Florida. “As our largest investor to date, their leadership accelerates our path to groundbreaking and reflects a broader movement of organizations coming together to invest in the future of our community.”
Italia added, “This partnership is especially meaningful because it builds on a shared commitment to financial education. Through EverBank Builds, they are already investing in stronger financial futures – and the Experiential Learning Center allows that impact to scale in a powerful and lasting way.”
JANFL is working to move the project into the construction phase by the end of 2026, supported by growing engagement from corporate partners and the organization’s GROUNDBREAKERS initiative.
“At EverBank, we are committed to building stronger communities by expanding access to financial education and opportunity,” said Renuka Patel, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer of EverBank. “We’re proud to support the development of Junior Achievement’s Experiential Learning Center to give young people the tools, confidence and real-world perspective to build long-term financial well-being.”
“Through JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, students gain confidence by doing – not just learning,” said Italia. “EverBank’s presence will help bring that experience to life in a way that is relevant, tangible, and impactful.”
The ELC is part of a broader $15 million capital campaign to expand Junior Achievement’s reach and deepen its impact across Northeast Florida. With momentum continuing to build, JANFL is actively engaging additional partners who want to help shape a project designed to serve tens of thousands of students each year – and strengthen the region’s future workforce.
EverBank is a longstanding champion of Junior Achievement. Beyond this commitment, EverBank supports JANFL through its Touchdowns for Tomorrow program. Touchdowns for Tomorrow was launched through a partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars to bring early financial education to schools across the First Coast in North Florida. For every regular season Jaguars touchdown, both home and away, EverBank pledges $500 to JANFL. Since inception in 2022, over 10,000 local students have received vital financial education lessons through the program.
For more information about Junior Achievement of North Florida and the Experiential Learning Center, visit https://www.janflelc.org/
About Junior Achievement of North Florida
Junior Achievement of North Florida inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. JA’s hands-on learning experiences focus on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship – helping students build the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to pursue choice-filled futures and contribute to a stronger Northeast Florida. For more information, visit janfl.org.
About EverBank
EverBank, N.A. (EverBank) is a nationwide specialty bank providing high-value products and services to consumer and commercial clients coast-to-coast. As a pioneer in online banking, we offer convenient digital access for clients 24/7, in addition to phone banking services and a network of financial centers across California, Florida and New York. EverBank’s commitment is to deliver to our clients high-performing, high-yield solutions backed by exceptional service, always giving them the advantage they expect, to make the most of their money. Visit everbank.com or connect and interact with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X. EverBank is a Member FDIC.