Junior Achievement

Lead Partner: Wendy Gillespie

Get ready for hardhats! SDSVP joined hands with Junior Achievement to create a special place that will inspire the future generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders – Enterprise Village.

Junior Achievement is an international organization that has served Greater San Diego for 50 years. Enterprise Village is an innovative project that teaches our youth about money management, credit and investing for the future to prepare them for a more productive life.

Enterprise Village will be a 10,000 square foot replica of a small American city, complete with a city hall, bank, and 18 bustling enterprises. Enterprise Village will also have a non-profit center so students learn the value of giving back to their communities, just like SDSVP!

To make this dream come true for San Diego students, SDSVP contributed a capacity-building grant and significant energy from its Partners to ensure that this project is brought in on schedule with the funds to make it happen. From creating a thoughtful business plan to product-launch marketing advice, the Partners have been fully engaged in every aspect of the project.

The timing could not be better! More students drop out of college due to credit card debt than academic failure. Enterprise Village teaches financial literacy in a hands-on engaging format that kids love to learn. Thanks to the help of SDSVP, Enterprise Village is scheduled to open its doors to its first students in May 2007.

“SDSVP brought an energy and enthusiasm to this project that was contagious. The dedication of the Partners was an inspiration to our entire staff. The guidance that SDSVP provided at strategic junctures was irreplaceable. It was clear the Partners were doing what they do best: being entrepreneurs and launching new projects!”

Marion Paul,
Executive Vice President