Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay

08/07/2026

At the GTE Financial Storefront in Muma BizTown, fifth graders open accounts, process transactions, and manage the money that keeps an entire town running. They're connected, and together they're what accelerates economic mobility.

Earlier this summer, Jennifer Maxfield and her team from GTE Financial visited their newly revamped storefront alongside students from the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee & Sarasota Counties. Students stepped into roles as tellers, account managers, and CEOs while GTE professionals worked right alongside them. That's career-connected learning, co-created by a business partner who knows the industry from the inside.

GTE Financial has invested in Muma BizTown since it first opened its doors 20 years ago. Two decades of Tampa Bay students have learned how a financial institution actually operates because a community partner chose to show them.

Thank you to President and CEO Brian Best, whose championship of Junior Achievement has helped ensure that generation after generation of Tampa Bay students walks into their future confident, capable, and connected. And to the entire GTE Financial team, thank you for believing in what our students can become.

08/07/2026

08/05/2026

Students from Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian HS spend the school year on the floor with our experiential learning team, running rotations, resetting breakout groups, and keeping Muma BizTown and JA Finance Park moving for thousands of Tampa Bay students.

In the summer, we return the investment. Our Bridge Program takes Cristo Rey students through personal finance and smart decision making with gamified lessons: credit challenges, stock competitions, career applications, and real budget scenarios that put money decisions in their hands before the stakes are real.
 
They power the experience. They live the experience. Both sides walk away stronger.
 
Thank you, Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School. 🙌

08/04/2026

The best leaders lead by example.

Last week, JA Tampa Bay hosted the second annual 3DE Student Leadership summit, a day of collaboration, inspiration, and fun as we look towards the beginning of another school year. But what really stood out: watching students see themselves in the mentors and business leaders in the room, realizing that leadership isn't someday, it's a choice they're already making every day.

08/03/2026

⚾ Join us at the ballpark for JA Family Day! Sunday, August 16, Rays vs. Orioles.
Proceeds from every ticket benefit Junior Achievement and the students we serve right here at home. Grab your seats and we'll see you there!
🎟️ https://www.jatampabay.org/rays

07/17/2026

Over the past few weeks, we have proudly welcomed Boys & Girls Club areas from Manatee, Polk, Sarasota, and Citrus Counties to Muma JA BizTown, and the energy has been incredible.

Inside our student sized city, these young leaders stepped into real roles as CEOs, bankers, journalists, and entrepreneurs. They earned paychecks, managed budgets, and ran businesses, experiencing firsthand what it takes to power a community. Moments like these build confidence and skills that stay with students long after the day ends and will ultimately fuel the economic mobility of our region.

A huge thank you to the incredible volunteers from ReliaQuest, First Horizon Bank, American Momentum Bank, and PwC who came out to guide, mentor, and cheer on these students every step of the way. Your time and expertise bring the real world into every storefront in BizTown.

And thank you to our partners at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for believing in what happens when students get the chance to lead. Together, we are opening doors to opportunity filled futures. 💙

07/02/2026

We are beyond thrilled to announce Christina Roberts as Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay's new President & CEO! 🎉

Christina's connection to JA Tampa Bay spans nearly two decades, beginning as a volunteer, then growing into the role of Chief Development Officer, where she became one of the driving forces behind the growth and success of our organization. She has been instrumental in expanding 3DE Schools from four schools in two districts to 17 schools across five districts, helped secure multiple six- and seven-figure philanthropic investments, and spearheaded a first-in-the-nation partnership with St. Petersburg College that awards college credit to 3DE students.

Now, as she steps into this role as our President & CEO, we couldn't be more confident in her vision, her integrity, and her commitment to the young people we serve. As Christina puts it, "What began as a JA volunteer nearly two decades ago has come full circle." 💛

As Richard George steps down as President and CEO after 42 years of service he states, "“Our organization has never been stronger, and I am confident its brightest days are still ahead. [Christina] is uniquely positioned to build on the momentum we have created together.” Richard will continue to serve as an advisor through the end of the calendar year.

Here's to an exciting new chapter for Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, our supporters, our team, and for the more than 60,000 students we look forward to serving this coming school year.
Congratulations Christina!

To read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/epZfV6er

Thank you to the Alexis Muellner and Tampa Bay Business Journal for breaking the news.

06/24/2026

This past week at JA Summer Ventures, students brought the energy and ran with it.

Inside an expanded version of Muma BizTown, they applied for jobs, voted for their mayor, and learned what it means to be accountable to a team that counts on them. They tackled real responsibilities, sparked big ideas, and had a whole lot of fun getting there.

A week like this shows exactly what is possible when young people get the chance to lead.

06/12/2026

Something worth cheering for is coming this August. ⚾

Join JA Tampa Bay for Family Day with the Tampa Bay Rays — Sunday, August 16 at 12:15pm. Proceeds from every ticket sold benefit JA learning experiences that help Tampa Bay students connect the classroom to real life.

Raymond's ready. Are you?

🎟️ Get your tickets at jatampabay.com/Rays

Thank you to our partners at the Rays Up Foundation for making this possible.

05/29/2026

When you teach a child what philanthropy looks like in action, you are not just changing their life today. You are shaping the kind of adult they will become tomorrow.

That is the power of partnerships like the one we share with United Way Suncoast. For more than 20 years, their support has made it possible for thousands of students across Tampa Bay to experience generosity firsthand, and the greatest return on that investment is knowing that one day, these same students will be the ones showing up for the next generation.

As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Muma BizTown, we are deeply grateful for partners who have believed in this mission from the very beginning and in the young people it serves.