Junior Achievement of San Diego County

JA Open House - May 2025
2025-05-28 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Wendy Gillespie Center for Junior Achievement Campus, 4756 Mission Gorge Pl, San Diego, CA, 92120
Come see JA programs in action and learn more about the JA mission at our upcoming JA Open House. Check out our McGrath Family JA BizTown and Mission Fed JA Finance Park while networking with likeminded professionals and community members.
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
RSVP
For questions about our JA Open House, contact Megan Ray at mray@jasandiego.org.

JA Golf Classic Tournament 2025
2025-06-23 08:30 - 17:00 | Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, 15150 San Dieguito Rd, San Diego, CA, 92067
Empower the next generation by joining us for our annual JA Golf Classic Tournament. Enjoy 18 holes at the prestigious Fairbanks Ranch Country Club nestled in beautiful Rancho Santa Fe. Tournament proceeds support JA’s experiential learning programs that equip students with the knowledge and skillset in the three pillars of success: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
After enjoying a day out on the course, relax during our reception.
8:30 am | Registration
11:00 am | Shotgun Start
Reception begins following play
Register Here
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Linda O’Connell at loconnell@jasandieg.org.
THANK YOU TO OUR JA GOLF CLASSIC EVENT SPONSORS!

JA Open House - Oct 2025
2025-10-02 11:00 - 13:00 | Wendy Gillespie Center for Junior Achievement Campus, 4756 Mission Gorge Pl, San Diego, CA, 92120
Come see how Junior Achievement of San Diego County is empowering the next generation at our upcoming JA Open House. Stop by the JA Campus on Thursday, October 2 anytime between 11 am – 1 pm and see the McGrath Family JA BizTown mini-city and Mission Fed JA Finance Park budgeting simulations in action. Learn more about the JA mission while networking with likeminded professionals and community members. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. RSVP For questions about our JA Open House, contact Megan Ray at mray@jasandiego.org.

San Diego Business Hall of Fame 2025
2025-10-24 16:30 - 19:00 | Wendy Gillespie Center for Junior Achievement Campus, 4756 Mission Gorge Pl, San Diego, CA, 92120
For 75 years, Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) has inspired and prepared young people to achieve future success through experiential learning rooted in the pillars of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. JA San Diego will be inducting the next class of Lifetime Laureates at the San Diego Business Hall of Fame presented by US Bank, recognizing local leaders who embody business and philanthropic excellence, and serve as role models for our students.
We are thrilled to announce the 2025 class of Lifetime Laureates: Jack Raymond, Darlene Shiley, Dr. Chun Bin “Charlie” Yim, and a special honoree to be announced.
The Business Hall of Fame is an annual fundraising event that supports JA’s workforce development and financial literacy programming that drives economic success for our youth. As we look to the next 75 years of impact, we invite our attendees to participate in our Fund-Their-Future paddle raise and invest in the boundless potential of young people.
Join us for a night of celebrating the legacy and accomplishments of our Lifetime Laureates, while uplifting the next generation of leaders.
RSVP
For more information about this event, please contact Linda O’Connell at loconnell@jasandiego.org.

Introducing the 2025 Class of Lifetime Laureates
Jack Raymond, Chairman and CEO of Raymond CompaniesJack Raymond has held numerous leadership roles in educational and community organizations, including the Escondido Elementary School Board of Trustees, the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Escondido Community Foundation, and the San Diego Economic Development Corporation. He has been recognized for his many contributions including the LEAD San Diego Visionary Leadership Award for Regional Collaboration and Escondido Business leader of the Year.
Darlene Shiley, President of The Shiley FoundationA patron of education, medical research, and the arts, Shiley’s contributions in the San Diego community can be seen on academic and research buildings across the region. Shiley serves as president of the Shiley Foundation stewarding the philanthropic commitment of her and her late husband, Donald Shiley, in donating their estate. Shiley additionally volunteers her time as a mentor to university students.
Dr. Chun Bin “Charlie” Yim, EntrepreneurBorn in Seoul, Korea, Charlie Yim moved to San Diego in 1969 to work with the Peace Corps. He later attended San Diego State where he earned a bachelor’s and doctoral degree. Yim sent several years serving in the public sector before dedicating his time to entrepreneurial endeavors, turning struggling businesses into huge successes. Yim has served in leadership roles for organizations focused on international business relations and is philanthropist in the San Diego community.

Thank You To Our Event Sponsors

JA Youth Workforce Convening
2025-12-03 10:00 - 12:30 | The Farmer & The Seahorse, 10996 Torreyana Rd Ste 240, San Diego, CA, 92121
Creating Pathways to Employment:
Uniting Industry, Education, and Community
In partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, please join Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) for a dynamic convening of current and prospective industry partners committed to shaping the future of San Diego’s workforce starting in high school.
On December 3, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, we’ll gather partners like Deloitte, Illumina, Hawthorne CAT, Mission Fed Credit Union, and the County of San Diego to explore how we can collectively support talent pipelines through the 2026 JA Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Together, we’ll discuss what worked and what didn’t in years past, and what resources are available to continue to scale SYEP from 150 students across the region in 2025 to more than 200 students in 2026.
Sponsored by Vertex and hosted by JA San Diego, this event will feature:

Insights from employers about the value to their business and best practices
A policymaker perspective on the importance to our region and future workforce needs
Tactical next steps for existing and prospective partners to be site hosts in 2026

Whether you’ve hosted students before or are exploring how to get involved, this is your opportunity to connect, collaborate, and be a part of an initiative that is ensuring inclusive economic growth through public-private investments in our future workforce.
RSVP

2025 Site Host Partners

JA Winter Open House
2026-01-29 11:00 - 13:00 | Wendy Gillespie Center for Junior Achievement Campus, 4756 Mission Gorge Pl, San Diego, CA, 92120

2026 JA Stock Market Challenge
2026-03-24 09:30 - 13:00 | National University, 9980 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA, 92131
Put your investing knowledge to the test at JA Stock Market Challenge presented by Charles Schwab! High school students complete JA Take Stock in Your Future to learn the fundamentals of investing in the stock market to prepare for the event.
The Challenge simulates a 60-day trading period on the stock market where students build mock portfolios based on economic trends and news. The winning team with the largest portfolio will be rewarded with fun prizes and the opportunity to move on to the national competition at the JA USA Future Bound in Boston, MA.
For information about this event, please contact Nancy Quidachay at nquidachay@jasandiego.org.
This year, we invite our partners to join us to compete alongside our students. Be a part of this exciting event while supporting youth financial literacy. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica Woodyard at jwoodyard@jasandiego.org.
Event Sponsors

Invest in What's Next
2026-04-01 - 2026-05-31
At Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego), we are inspiring the next generation for future success through one-of-a-kind experiential learning that empowers them to own their economic success.
Together, we can inspire local youth to dream big and achieve economic mobility. Your support empowers young people to build the confidence, develop the skills, and grow the professional networks they need to succeed in the modern world.
Become a Fundraiser
Register to become a fundraiser and share the JA mission with your friends, family, and networks.
Create your fundraising page and share your unique link. We’ll provide resources and support to help you fundraise and spread the word.
Every donation directly supports youth empowerment and JA’s experiential learning experiences including the JA BizTown career exploration mini-city and JA Finance Park budgeting simulation!
Get a free JA shirt: For participants who register and make a personal gift by April 1, you’ll receive a free JA t-shirt after the conclusion of the campaign. The JA team will contact participants who qualified for the t-shirt to capture their t-shirt size and share details on availability for t-shirt pickup in April.
Enter the raffle: For each individual who donates through your page, you’ll get one entry for our raffle. Prizes include a one-night stay at the Gaylord Pacific Resort and two round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines. Read raffle terms on the registration page.
Register
Questions about the campaign or JA San Diego? Contact Jessica Woodyard at jwoodyard@jasandiego.org.

2026 Rising Innovators Expo
2026-04-23 16:00 - 19:00 | San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, CA, 92111
Student entrepreneurs will showcase their business ideas and ventures at the 2026 Rising Innovators Expo presented by TMC Financing. Students from across the county will be participating in the expo, sharing their businesses and entrepreneurial journey. To qualify for the event, students participated in JA Company Program curriculum guided by business mentors. Top student companies will pitch their businesses to a panel of San Diego business leaders, competing in the JA Company of the Year Competition or JA Social Innovation Challenge.
JA Company of the Year Competition: Students to apply 21st-century skills—creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication—while demonstrating entrepreneurial thinking. Student businesses are evaluated on company performance and product/service innovation as well as the achievements and the team’s reflection and understanding of the decisions, strategies, and actions that drove their results.

JA Social Innovation Challenge: Students conceptualize and refine innovative business ideas aimed at improving and making an impact in their community. JA Social Innovation Challenge encourages students to explore ways in which business can be a solution for real-world challenges. Students must demonstrate a clear understanding of the local business landscape and to create a thoughtful and strategic business plan.

The winning teams will be rewarded with fun prizes and the opportunity to move on to the national competition at the JA USA Future Bound in Boston, MA.
RSVP
For information about this event, please contact Nancy Quidachay at nquidachay@jasandiego.org.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica Woodyard at jwoodyard@jasandiego.org.
Event Sponsors

2026 JA Golf Classic
2026-06-15 09:00 - 17:00 | Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, 15150 San Dieguito Rd, San Diego, CA, 92067
Swing into action for JA students! Enjoy a day on the greens while supporting economic mobility for San Diego youth. Through career exploration, professional development, and financial literacy education, we can drive their future forward.

Shotgun start at 11:00am.

Register

View our sponsorship opportunities. For information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Jessica Woodyard at jwoodyward@jasandiego.org.
Event Sponsors
