International Paper Sponsor of New JA Colonial Group Discovery Center in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 30, 2020 /3BL Media/– Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA) is proud to announce a gift of $100,000 to the capital campaign of the JA Colonial Group Discovery Center of Savannah. Their commitment will fund the renovation and launch of the facility on the Armstrong campus.

“International Paper has been a wonderful partner for many years.  They are generous with their financial support, and their employees have worked with local students teaching financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness,” said Camille Russo, Vice President, Marketing, JA of Georgia. “We are excited that through this facility, we will expand our reach into the region and give 150 students per day invaluable experiences for years to come.”  

International Paper mill managers, Doug Johnson, Port Wentworth Mill and Jay Wilson, Savannah Mill, commented, “The future of our communities depends on today’s children, and therefore, we support strategic partners, like Junior Achievement,  that focus on helping children succeed via a comprehensive approach to education. We are proud of our longstanding relationship with Junior Achievement, and this project speaks to why we invest our resources with them. We are excited to be a part of this innovative facility where 15,000 students from the region will learn important life skills.”

The outfitting of the space has received approval by the University System of Georgia and the Board of Regents. The campaign for the facility will total approximately $3.8 million in financial support.

The facility will provide students continued exposure to their future possibilities through two innovative programs:

JA BizTown creates an unmatched experience where 6th grade students can interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. Here, students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also realize the abundance of opportunities available within their city.

JA Finance Park provides 7^th grade students the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Guided by an assigned ‘life situation,’ students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

Currently JA Discovery Centers serve more than 88,000 students a year across three locations - the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Atlanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett and the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia in Cumming. The fourth facility, in Dalton, is under construction and will open in 2021, bringing the total impact to more than a third of middle school students in Georgia.

To find out more about getting involved, please contact Camille Russo at 912-344-5440 or crusso@georgia.ja.org.

To learn more about JA of Georgia, visit their website.

About Junior Achievement of Georgia

Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make educated academic and economic choices. JA learning solutions are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences to students from kindergarten through high school. JA of Georgia offers multiple programs, including in-class programs, 3DE by Junior Achievement, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, all of which focus on entrepreneurship, personal financial literacy and workforce readiness. JA of Georgia serves more than 175,000 students annually statewide, including 16,000 in the Savannah area. JA of Georgia’s headquarters is in Atlanta with regional offices in Dalton, Gainesville, and Savannah. For more information, visit georgia.ja.org.

About the International Paper Foundation

The International Paper Foundation is one of the ways International Paper strives to reach our vision to be among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world. Started in 1952, the foundation annually provides millions in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where our employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to our signature causes: education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet. For more information, visit ipgiving.com.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue, and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ more than 50,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2019 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.

Contact:
Camille Russo
Junior Achievement of Georgia
912-344-5440
crusso@georgia.ja.org