June 18, 2026
ORLANDO, FL – June 17, 2026 – Junior Achievement of Central Florida (JACF) is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from Dr. Phillips Charities to support the build-out of the JA Eisner Family Dreamers Center in Lake Nona – future home of the region’s first-ever JA BizTown, Presented by AdventHealth. The center is set to open in 2027, marking an exciting step forward for Central Florida as it joins a national network of more than 54 Junior Achievement experiential learning centers. Upon completion, JA BizTown will bring immersive, real-world education to thousands of students annually.
JA BizTown is a hands-on learning environment where 4th-6th grade students step into the roles of business leaders for a day. From running banks and managing restaurants to making healthcare decisions and participating in local government by electing a mayor, students gain practical experience that connects classroom learning to real-life success. This dynamic program integrates life-ready money skills, career exploration, and civic engagement in a way that students never forget. For the first time, as many as 30,000 Central Florida students annually will have access to this life-changing experience, helping prepare them for success in college, careers, and beyond.
Dr. Phillips Charities has long recognized education and financial literacy as a cornerstone of individual and community success, supporting initiatives that expand opportunity and empower students across Central Florida. Their commitment to impactful, long-term investments in education aligns closely with Junior Achievement’s mission to provide young people with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve economic success and build brighter futures.
The JA Eisner Family Dreamers Center will serve as a hub for experiential education, expanding access to Junior Achievement programs and empowering students across the region to learn, achieve, and dream big.
Community Champions Making It Possible
This experience is being launched in collaboration with community champions including the Lewis Family, Eisner Family, AdventHealth, Chick-fil-A, Fairwinds Credit Union, First Horizon Bank, Florida Blue Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Resource Consulting Group, Rosen Hotels & Resort, Travel + Leisure Co. and CPPI. Their vision and support are helping bring this first-of-its-kind initiative to life in Central Florida.
About Dr. Phillips Charities
The Dr. Phillips name has been a major economic and philanthropic presence in the Central Florida community since the turn of the 20th century. Dr. Phillips Charities (Dr. Phillips Inc. and The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation) uses the earnings from its investment and real estate income to give financial assistance to hundreds of charities serving primarily in Orange and Osceola counties. Dr. Phillips has contributed more than $261 million in grants, pledges and program-related investments to Central Florida charities that respond to the needs of the community, directly touching the lives of thousands of children and families. Learn more at www.drphillips.org.
Social Media Links
Dr. Phillips Charities (@drphillipscharities): Facebook | Instagram
About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets, and is part of JA Worldwide, which serves over 19.9 million students in more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.ja.org.
Media Contact:
Fran Korosec
Lake Nona Initiative Director
407-221-4346
fkorosec@jacentralfl.org
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