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MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chamber Committee Elevates Mentorship To The Next Generation October 12, 2011 – Victoria, BC – Prodigy Group Facilitates Mentorship Experience to Grade 5 Classrooms in JA Business Basics Program. In partnership with Prodigy Group, and in celebration of Small Business Month in British Columbia, Junior Achievement is teaching youth in the Capital Region the basics of business. During October, 240 elementary school aged youth will be introduced to the concepts of business organization, management, production and marketing through Junior Achievement’s Business Basics program. The program is being facilitated in Victoria school classrooms by young entrepreneurs – members of Victoria’s own Prodigy Group. “Working in partnership with the Prodigy Group enables us to encourage entrepreneurial aspirations among our local youth. “ said Deborah Wakeham, Regional Manager, Vancouver Island Junior Achievement of British Columbia. “These young business people have so much knowledge and experience to share – the Prodigy Group is able to inspire students to think about business in our community and business in the future.” The partnership between Junior Achievement and Prodigy Group results in the nurturing and mentoring of young entrepreneurs which leads to innovative industries, new jobs and wealth creation. The program ultimately encourages entrepreneurship, which is an asset to the region’s economy and a priority of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “Community involvement is incredibly important for any young professional” said an excited Josh Hample of the Prodigy Group, “getting the opportunity to help develop the next generation of business leaders with Junior Achievement is absolutely an honour to be a part of.” Josh is facilitating the Business Basics program and participates in the Prodigy Group Mentoring Program where selected leaders in the Chamber of Commerce business community mentor Prodigy Group members. About the Prodigy Group The Prodigy Group is a committee of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. It is a professional networking group that provides emerging professionals with social networking events, professional mentorship relationships, and community involvement opportunities. The committee also donates proceeds from their events to the Junior Achievement’s Business Basics program and Community Micro Lending. For more information regarding Prodigy Group please visit: www.prodigygroup.ca About Junior Achievement Junior Achievement (JA) is the world’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about business. With over 120 charters worldwide, JA brings a global view of business to local communities. JA programs help prepare students for the real world as they learn how to apply entrepreneurial thinking in the workplace, learn financial and money management concepts and understand the importance of an education as it relates to their long term career goals. The Junior Achievement Business Basics program puts students in charge of making big decisions in different areas of a small business. Students put their talents to the test in the organization, management, production and marketing of their very own companies. Students get a taste of real world business challenges and discover the value of teamwork. On Vancouver Island, Junior Achievement reaches over 6,000 students annually, with the help of over 200 volunteers from the business community. During the 2010/11 school year, more than 250 programs were provided in the region. For more information regarding Junior Achievement please visit: www.jabc.org -30- Contact: Janell Karst, Chair of Prodigy Group Email: janell.karst@cgi.com Tel: 250.514.3069 -30- For more information contact: Ellen Henry Bruce Carter Manager of Member Communications Chief Executive Officer Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Email: ehenry@gvcc.org Email: bcarter@gvcc.org Cell: 250-812-0510
MEDIA RELEASE
Chamber Committee Elevates Mentorship To The Next Generation
October 12, 2011 – Victoria, BC – Prodigy Group Facilitates Mentorship Experience to Grade 5 Classrooms in JA Business Basics Program. In partnership with Prodigy Group, and in celebration of Small Business Month in British
Columbia, Junior Achievement is teaching youth in the Capital Region the basics of business. During October, 240 elementary school aged youth will be introduced to the concepts of business organization, management, production and marketing through Junior Achievement’s Business Basics program. The program is being facilitated in Victoria school classrooms by young entrepreneurs – members of Victoria’s own Prodigy Group.
“Working in partnership with the Prodigy Group enables us to encourage entrepreneurial aspirations among our local youth. “ said Deborah Wakeham, Regional Manager, Vancouver Island Junior Achievement of British Columbia. “These young business people have so much knowledge and experience to share – the Prodigy Group is able to inspire students to think about business in our community and business in the future.”
The partnership between Junior Achievement and Prodigy Group results in the nurturing and mentoring of young entrepreneurs which leads to innovative industries, new jobs and wealth creation. The program ultimately encourages entrepreneurship, which is an asset to the region’s economy and a priority of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
“Community involvement is incredibly important for any young professional” said an excited Josh Hample of the Prodigy Group, “getting the opportunity to help develop the next generation of business leaders with Junior Achievement is absolutely an honour to be a part of.” Josh is facilitating the Business Basics program and participates in the Prodigy Group Mentoring Program where selected leaders in the Chamber of Commerce business community mentor Prodigy Group members.
About the Prodigy Group
The Prodigy Group is a committee of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. It is a professional networking group that provides emerging professionals with social networking events, professional mentorship relationships, and community involvement opportunities. The committee also donates proceeds from their events to the Junior Achievement’s Business Basics program and Community Micro Lending.
For more information regarding Prodigy Group please visit: www.prodigygroup.ca
About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) is the world’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young
people about business. With over 120 charters worldwide, JA brings a global view of business to
local communities. JA programs help prepare students for the real world as they learn how to apply
entrepreneurial thinking in the workplace, learn financial and money management concepts and
understand the importance of an education as it relates to their long term career goals.
The Junior Achievement Business Basics program puts students in charge of making big decisions
in different areas of a small business. Students put their talents to the test in the organization,
management, production and marketing of their very own companies. Students get a taste of real world
business challenges and discover the value of teamwork. On Vancouver Island, Junior Achievement
reaches over 6,000 students annually, with the help of over 200 volunteers from the business community.
During the 2010/11 school year, more than 250 programs were provided in the region.
For more information regarding Junior Achievement please visit: www.jabc.org
-30-
Contact:
Janell Karst, Chair of Prodigy Group
Email: janell.karst@cgi.com
Tel: 250.514.3069
For more information contact:
Ellen Henry Bruce Carter
Email: ehenry@gvcc.org Email: bcarter@gvcc.org
Cell: 250-812-0510