2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Welcome Letter
Dear Friends of JA,
This year marked a remarkable milestone for Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain: our 75th anniversary. Since 1950, JA has been a driving force in empowering young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build successful futures
JA-Rocky Mountain was created in response to a growing need to prepare students not just academically, but also practically, for the demands of the modern workplace. Since then, we’ve reached more than 2.7 million local students, thanks to the dedication of thousands of volunteer role models who’ve shared their personal and professional journeys to inspire youth to pursue education, build financial capability, and develop entrepreneurial thinking
As we look to the future, JA-Rocky Mountain is uniquely positioned to deliver solutions that accelerate economic opportunity and mobility. Our deep connections with local schools, businesses, and volunteers allow us to meet the evolving needs of our region. We bring real-world relevance into classrooms, helping students understand how to navigate their financial lives, explore career pathways, and think entrepreneurially – skills that benefit not only the students themselves, but also their families and communities
Thanks to your support, JA-Rocky Mountain continues to be a catalyst for change –delivering transformative experiences that help young people break cycles of poverty, unlock potential, and build brighter futures
We invite you to explore the stories and successes highlighted in this report and celebrate the incredible difference you’ve helped make.
With gratitude,
Robin Wise President & CEO
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc
Darrin Foster Co-Founder, Oogie’s Snacks
JA-Rocky Mountain Board Chair
87,593 Students Reached 527,989 Contact Hours
482 Schools
in 23/24
2,120 Educators
in 23/24
2,752 Unique Volunteers
34,048 Low-Income Students
in 23/24
Program Impact
Statistics Based On 2024/25 School Year
Robert & Judi Newman
JA Finance Park, presented by
87% of participating students feel they have more control over how their future will turn out
90% of students are more confident about creating a realistic budget following participation
Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator
88% of participating students know of at least one career field that matches their talents, interests, and abilities
89% of participating students better understand what they need to do to achieve their career goals
JA Stock Market Challenge
75% of participating students feel more confident in their ability to invest wisely
88% of participating students learned something about a financial planning strategy
Long-Term Impact
From career choices to money management, self-confidence to entrepreneurship, JA has improve the lives of its alumni!*
95%
of JA Alumni say JA pos influenced their liv
Self-Confidence of alumni say JA shaped their belief that they can achieve their goals
Career Satisfaction of alumni find their careers extremely fulfilling
of a moti suc pro
of alumni feel financially stable
*Data from a 2024 Ipsos survey of 1,002 JA Alumni ages 22-43
Year in Review
August
More than $350,000 was raised for JA through the JA Dinner & Auction and the JA Enterprise Invitational. Special thanks to Sanctuary Golf Course and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse for hosting and providing world-class hospitality.
October
JA Professional Development hosted its first accredited program at the JA Free Enterprise Center. This session provided educators with economics lessons and curriculum to take into the classroom and share with their students.
July
JA-Rocky Mountain’s Chief Development Officer Kristi Shaffer was honored with the 30-Year Service Award at the 2024 JA National Leadership Conference in Kansas City, in honor of her dedication and impact on the organization over the last three decades
September
JA’s 2024 award winners were honored during a Colorado Rockies Game. JA Educator of the Year Rachel Caliga threw out the first pitch and was joined on the field by JA Advocate of the Year Steve Goldman JA
Year in Review
November
The JA Stock Market Challenge Corporate Events were held in Denver and Northern Colorado. Proceeds from the events support the JA Stock Market student events. Special thanks to JA Stock Market Challenge student sponsors Pepsi, RSM, and SM Energy.
January
JA-Rocky Mountain President & CEO Robin Wise was named the 2024 Woman of the Year by The Villager newspaper. This annual award celebrates individuals who exude class, professionalism, integrity, and a passion for life, family, and community.
December
Over the course of Colorado Gives Day, JA-Rocky Mountain raised more than $68,000, enabling JA to empower young people across our
February
JA-Rocky Mountain and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce inducted Walter Isenberg, Kim Jordan, Charles S. McNeil, Anita Padilla-Fitzgerald, Earl L Wright, and Winfield Scott Stratton into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame. Special thanks to sponsors UMB Bank and IMA Financial.
Year in Review
April
Colorado Governor Jared Polis officially proclaimed April 2025 as Financial Literacy Month in Colorado. JA-Rocky Mountain President & CEO Robin Wise and Vice President of Public Affairs Amy Sherman travelled to the state capitol in
June
Venture Academy of Leadership and Entrepreneurship students Scarlett Marrone and Hunter Jackson received national recognition by winning the Johnson & Johnson STEM Innovation Award at 2025's Future Bound by Junior Achievement
March
JA-Rocky Mountain introduced its newest middle school program, JA Business Quest. This simulation-based program teaches students the fundamentals of economics, business decision-making, market structures, and global trade
May
The annual Flood & Peterson Charity Sporting Clays Tournaments benefitting Junior Achievement was held at the Longmeadow Game Resort in Wiggins, CO. Congratulations to the FNBO team for winning the Team Title for the fourth i
2024/25 Programmatic Supporters
$200,000+
Anonymous
Anonymous
Daniels Fund
$100,000+
Anschutz Foundation
Bellco Credit Union
Charles Schwab
$50,000+
Adolph Coors Foundation
AMG National Trust Bank
Chick-fil-A
Colorado Gives Foundation
Denver Broncos Foundation
Denver Toyota Dealer’s Association
FirstBank
$25,000+
Adams County Government
American Furniture Warehouse
Apartment Association of Metro Denver
BMO
BuildStrong Education
Colorado Rockies
Confluence Companies
Lori and Joe Davis
Delta Dental
Meg and Jamie Duke
Bob and Sharla Hottman
IMA Financial Group
Larry and Pat Kendall
Koelbel Family Foundation
Liniger Fund
Mayer-Phillips Family
Foundation
Lilly Endowment Inc
WW Reynolds Foundation Inc
Prologis
SM Energy Company
Transamerica
Megastar Financial Corp
Nelnet
OtterCares Foundation
Wade Pursell
TIAA
United Parcel Service
U.S. Bank
Wells Fargo
Michael E McGoldrick
Charitable Foundation
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Robert and Judi Newman
Oakwood Homes
Pema Foundation
Pepsi Beverages Company
PNC Bank
Robert W. Baird & Co.
RSM
State Farm Insurance
Taco Bell Foundation
Travelers
UMB Bank
Western Union
Young Americans Bank
2024/25 Programmatic Supporters
$10,000+
Accenture
Anschutz Family Foundation
Bruce and Marcy Benson
Wayne Berger
CNA
Colorado Association of REALTORS
Colorado Golf Association
Colorado State University
Comcast
Considine Family Foundation
Deloitte
LARRK Foundation
Liberty Media Corporation
Littler Youth Fund
McKinsey & Company
McWhinney Enterprises
MDC Holdings
Monfort Family Foundation
Myron Stratton Home
Nagel Foundation
Edward and Wendy Nekritz
New Belgium Brewing
Newmont Corporation
The DeMuth Family Fund
Dorsey & Whitney
El Pomar Foundation
Empower
Enterprise Holdings
Doug and Cynthia Evans
Hilleary Everist
EY
Fidelity Investments
John and Ginny Freyer
Greenberg Traurig
Michael and Rosalyn Gregg
Larry J Hauserman
Jeremy and Jane Held
Ryan and Stephanie Helmer
Huntington Bank
Husch Blackwell LLP
Kathleen and John Ives
JE Dunn Construction Company
Jim M. Johnson
Junior Achievement USA
Kevin and Charlie Kelley
KPMG
Land Title Guarantee
NexGen Resources
Ovintiv
Plante Moran
Rollie R. Kelley Family
Foundation Fund
Sandy and Leslie Rothe
Kevin and Michelle Sachs
Safeway
Sage Hospitality Resources, LLC
Staples
Michael and Patricia Starzer
Swire Coca-Cola
Judy and Jim Vaughn
John and Jennifer Weems
The Weld Trust
Jim and Danielle Wilson
Robin and Steve Wise
WJD Foundation
Eric and Krista Wolf
Worldpay
Earl Wright
Wyoming Community Foundation
Xcel Energy
2024/25 Programmatic Supporters
$5,000+
Rose Andom
Autrey Foundation
Shawn M. Barker
Dianne Bartlett
Blue Foundation
BOK Financial
Broomfield Community Foundation
Businessolver
Chenzyme Foundation
City of Steamboat Springs
Stan Cohen
Collegiate Peaks Bank
Colorado Education Initiative
Terry Considine
Peter J. Coors
CORE Electric Cooperative Crowe, LLP
DeNOVO Solutions
FactSet
Fentress Architects
Cathey and Dick Finlon
Flood & Peterson
FNBO
Darrin and Carey Foster
Harry Frampton
Margot R Gilbert Frank
Charlie Gallagher
GE Johnson Construction Company
Shana Glassman Foundation
The Grant Family
Grant Thornton
Kyle Green
Pat Hamill
Virginia W. Hill Foundation
Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld
John A Ikard
Inspired by Giving
Jack in the Box
KDP
KeyBank
Kinsley Meetings
Bremmer and Maria Kneib
Koelbel & Company
L C Fulenwider, Inc
Josh S Levy
Oma Lewis
Mabel Y Hughes Charitable Trust
Evan N Makovsky
Betsy S. McCain
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney NoCo Foundation
Pauls Corporation
Bruce Peterson
Justin J. Prochnow
Quality Community Foundation
Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association
Rocky Mountain Power Foundation
Saunders Construction, Inc
Sharon Seeman
Anna & John Sie Foundation
George Solich
SouthState Bank
Steamboat Springs Education Fund
Stifel Nicolaus & Company
TJX
Bob Tointon
USI Insurance Services
Todd Vanosdoll
Herb Vogel
Beth Walker
Charles Williams
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
Zions Bancorporation
2024/25 Programmatic Supporters
$1,000+
ACME Manufacturing Company, Inc
David Alleman
ANB Bank
Natalie L Artibee
Vickie Bajtelsmit
Bank of America
Bank of Colorado
Dennis Barrett
Heather M Barry
Beaton Family Foundation
Ferd Belz
Barry Berlin and Mary Reisher
Jim Billings
Steve & Kelly Bloom Family Foundation
Boettcher Foundation
Sheryl Bollinger
Jess Bowler
Boy Scouts of America
Thomas H Bradbury
Branscum Family Fund at The Dallas Foundation
Brighton Legacy Foundation
Burg Family Foundation
Howard Carver
Casa Bonita
Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities
Christianne Chen
Cherry Creek School District
City of Fort Collins Economic Health Office
Clifford D. Clausen
Jack T Collins
Colorado Concern
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
Colorado Judicial Department
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines Foundation
The Colorado Trust Directed Contributions Program
Credit Union of Colorado
Tim Cripe
Ginny Crise
Lisa M Davis
Denver Chapter Payroll Association
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Denver Rotary Club Foundation
Denver Water
Denver Zoo
Brenda Dickhoner
Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc
Zack J Doroshow
DRM Real Estate Advisors
Shonna Dudley
Molly and Brent Duvall
Eide Bailly
Elevation Midstream, LLC
Elevations Credit Union
Megan Elward
Encore Bank
Ent Credit Union
Doug and Cynthia Evans
Anna D Ewing
EXDO Group Companies
David Farahi
W.D. Farr Endowment Fund
Jill Farrand
First American State Bank
First Western Trust
FirsTier Bank
Brian Florey
Foothills Rotary Club of Fort Collins
Forum Investment Group LLC
Fransen Pittman
Bobie Froman
Fundare Resources Company, LLC
Gates Corporation
Travis and Jennifer Gillmore
Gold Crown Foundation
Goldman Sachs
Goldstein Enterprises Inc.
Patrick Grant
Griffis Residential
The Group Real Estate
Todd C Grover
Sarah Gustashaw
Nick and Anne Hackstock
Ben Hanson
Rick Harris
Jenni and Ed Haselden
Amy Heidersbach
Tad Herz
Suzanne Hoover
George M and Pamela S Humphrey Fund
Bill Hybl
Intermountain Health
John Isenberg
Tom Isenberg
Daryl L. Jesperson
JLL
Ari Kaufman
Beth A King
Steve and Allison Kinsley
Carol Kirk
Warren Knop
Gerad Kostuk
Kundinger, Corder & Montoya, PC
2024/25 Programmatic Supporters
$1,000+
The David and Katherine Lawrence Foundation
Bruce Lee
Liberty Global
Michael Liedtke
Sharon H Linhart
Linx
Loveland Sertoma Club
Patrick A. Lytle
Marco’s Pizza
Sharon Martin
Richard and MaryPat McCormick
Charlie S McNeil
Mesa Properties
Sally and Jeff Messinger
Fritz Meyer
Mighty Arrow Family Foundation
The Steve Mihaylo and Louis Mihaylo Foundation
Frank Mooney
Danny D Moore
Scott Moore
Christine Morrison
Bill Mosher
Sarah Murphy
The Laura Jane Musser Fund
Nading Family Fund
Native Excavating, Inc
Jeff Nelligan
Nick and Julie Niehaus
Sean Nohavec
Novitas Communications, LLC
Office of Economic Development & International Trade
Emily Peterson
Jim Powers
Paul Powers
James W. Price
Raymond James Investment
Management
Joe Reed
Reel Family Foundation
Don Remey
Retirement Planning Center of the Rockies, LLC
Robinson Management, LLC
Rose Community Foundation
Rotary Club of Fort Collins
Christopher Rothe
Routt County
Christopher and Cydney Ruff
David Salazar
Jennifer M. Samuels
SBNY
Jeffrey D Schermerhorn
Schuck Communities, Inc
Elizabeth R Seawalt
Select Health
Keri Sexton
Shopneck Family Foundation
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Colorado Delta
Kathleen M Simpson
Eric and Susan Sipf
Sloan and Mollie Smith
SpyderSec, LLC
StarRez, LTD
The Steamboat Institute
Steamboat Springs Rotary Club
Steele Street Private Wealth
Management
Greg Stevinson
Strive Health
Ginger and Steve Stookesberry
Strohm Link Family Foundation
SUM Financial Services Group
Summit Foundation
Jake D Sweeney
Hans Swolfs
Steven Talley
Target
Target Circle
James A Taylor
TBK Bank, SSB
Paul Thompson
Tointon Family Foundation
Turnbuckle Distilling
United Way - Routt County
University of Denver
University of Denver, Daniels College of Business
Andrew Urie
Julie Vallero
Verizon
Visit Denver
Volunteers of America
Voya Financial
Wendy Wade
David Walden
Tim Walsh
Pamela and Marvin Weinstein
Jason Weston
Kris Whalen
Williams Companies, Inc
John and Kathy Woodward
Yampa Valley Electric Association
Ron Yaros
Jeff Zawila
Experiential Program Supporters
Robert & Judi Newman
JA Finance Park Supporters
Presenting Sponsor - $150,000
Aegon Transamerica Foundation
$50,000+
Bellco Credit Union
Chick-fil-A
Daniels Fund
Denver Toyota Dealer’s Association
Nelnet
TIAA
Young Americans Bank
$25,000+
American Furniture Warehouse
Apartment Association of Metro Denver
BuildStrong Foundation
Charles Schwab
Colorado Rockies
Confluence Companies
Delta Dental
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Oakwood Homes
PNC Bank
SM Energy Company
Travelers
US Bank
Up to $25,000
Amazon
Businessolver
Collegiate Peaks Bank
Comcast
Denver Rotary Club Foundation
Dorsey & Whitney
Doug and Cynthia Evans
FactSet
Newmont Corporation
Pepsi Beverages Company
Staples
Target
TJX
Vectra
Worldpay
JA Dream Accelerator Supporters
$100,000+
Anonymous Daniels Fund
Denver Broncos F $50,000+
Up to $25,00
JA Giving Societies
JA Free Enterprise Society
Individuals and families who made gifts of $10,000 or more in 2024/25
$25,000+
Lori and Joe Davis
Meg and Jamie Duke
Bob and Sharla Hottman
Larry and Pat Kendall
Buz and Sherri Koelbel
Bob and Judi Newman
Wade Pursell
$10,000+
Bruce and Marcy Benson
Wayne Berger
Peter J Coors
Terry Considine
Brian and Caryn Deevy
The DeMuth Family Fund
Doug and Cynthia Evans
Hilleary Everist
John and Ginny Freyer
Michael and Rosalyn Gregg
Larry J. Hauserman
Jeremy and Jane Held
Ryan and Stephanie Helmer
Kate and John Ives
Jim M Johnson
Kevin and Charlie Kelley
Trish and Ralph Nagel
Edward and Wendy Nekritz
Sandy and Leslie Rothe
Kevin and Michelle Sachs
Michael and Patricia Starzer
Jim and Judy Vaughn
Tim and Lisa Walsh
John and Jennifer Weems
Jim and Danielle Wilson
Robin and Steve Wise
Eric and Krista Wolf
Earl Wright
JA Legacy Society
Devoted supporters who include the organization in their estate planning
Doug and Cynthia Evans
Matt and Aileen McConnell
Sandy and Leslie Rothe
Kevin and Michelle Sachs
Kristi and Mark Shaffer
Kathy Strandberg
Ron and Susie Tilton
Jim and Judy Vaughn
Adam Wise and Guy Benson
Robin and Steve Wise
JA Apple Society
JA-Rocky Mountain’s Apple Society recognizes members of the community who have volunteered their time to provide JA programming to more than 250 students, The following individuals became part of the JA Apple Society, or reached a new level, during the 2024/25 school year.
1500+ Students
Josh Edoff
Josh Levy
Christopher Ruff
1000+ Students
Melissa Britton
Erin Davis
Elizabeth King
Marshall Moore
Parker Ridgley
Tyler Younker
750+ Students
Louis Auerbach
Beth Huffman
Patrick Lytle
Edward Mennona
Nicholas Niehaus
Nathan Sumner
500+ Students
Josh Cavanaugh
Scott Fuog
Andrew Goudy
Joshua McIlwain
Dana Saltzman
Rick Sutton
250+ Students
Matt Betts
Lendi Boyle
Peter Christopher
Linda Count
Tim Eckerman
Tracy Egler
Chandler Elmore
Ryan Grady
Alice Hanna
Nick Harris
Travis Heath
Tonica Johnson
Joseph Kresock
Nichole Lopez
Karmina Luna-Dominguez
Kirk Lynch
Benjamin Martin
Morey McDonnell
Emily Moothart
Amanda O’Hayre
Joanne Scott
Brad Sherman
Cody Stanton
Erin Traux
Justin Whited
Financial Statements
