By Goodwill Industries-Suncoast Sr. Creative & Media Relations Manager, Jennifer Fleming
To extend our mission service reach in the communities we serve, Goodwill Industries-Suncoast (St. Petersburg, FL) is partnering with Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay to operate a “storefront” at Junior Achievement’s new Finance Park. The community partnership is an effective way to reach middle-school students and teach them about Goodwill®’s mission and affordability while promoting financial literacy.
At the Tampa Finance Park, eighth-grade students learn about personal finance through a real-life simulation program. After a series of lessons in the classroom, the students visit Finance Park, assume randomly assigned family and income scenarios via a tablet computer, and visit businesses – such as Goodwill® – to gather information for their personal financial decision-making.
The immersive simulation enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment. A total of 14,500 eighth graders are expected to pass through the Goodwill storefront at Finance Park during 2019.
The Goodwill “store” features a video wall displaying information about budget shopping at Goodwill and how donations and purchases support our mission. Wall graphics explain that process, and also highlight how affordable Goodwill is in relation to other retail options.
Community volunteers are recruited to staff the storefront, helping the students plan their budgets and answering questions about Goodwill. Volunteer staffing makes this a viable service model.
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is proud to be a partner in Junior Achievement’s experiential center that offers state-of-the art technology and provides students with an immersive, hands-on experience in budgeting and career choices!
