The Starke County Community Foundation has awarded a $6,160 grant to Junior Achievement (JA) Serving Starke County, helping bring vital financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness programs to local students.
During the 2025–2026 school year, JA will provide 14 classroom programs reaching more than 245 students across Knox Community Middle School, North Judson-San Pierre Middle and Elementary Schools, and Oregon-Davis Jr/Sr High and Elementary Schools. These programs—such as JA BizTown®, Economics for Success®, and Personal Finance®—equip students with practical tools to make sound financial decisions, explore career options, and gain confidence in planning for their futures.
Junior Achievement has been serving Starke County since 1988, partnering with local schools to fill critical gaps in education. With Indiana now requiring a semester of financial literacy for graduation, demand for these programs is greater than ever.
“Junior Achievement is deeply grateful to the Northern Indiana Community Foundation for their generous support. This grant helps us meet the growing demand for financial literacy education in our local schools. With Indiana now requiring a full semester of financial literacy for all graduating seniors, this support is especially timely. Financial literacy is critical for youth in Starke County as they prepare to make real-world decisions about money, careers, and their futures. Thanks to this investment, students will gain the essential skills they need to build brighter financial futures,” said Jessica Hilary, Regional Development Director – North Central Business Unit.
These grants were made possible through the Starke County Community Fund, which supports local programs and initiatives that improve quality of life. Donations to this fund are currently eligible for matching dollars through the GIFT VIII initiative, meaning every $1 given is matched with an additional $2.
To learn more about supporting programs like this, or to make a gift that triples in impact, visit www.nicf.org or contact the Starke County Director of Development Jacque Ryan at 574.772.3665.
