Junior Achievement of North Florida has set a date and chosen award winners for its annual Hall of Fame

Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 16, 2023 – Junior Achievement of North Florida has set the date for its Hall of Fame Luncheon for Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the University of North Florida’s Adam W. Herbert University Center. The nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser and awards presentation supports its mission to inspire and prepare young people for success. The community can get involved by becoming a sponsor of the event and 100 percent of the funds raised will provide financial literacy programs to North Florida’s students. Sponsorship levels range from the top $15,000 presenting levels to the $2,500 chairman level. Those interested should contact JANFL President Shannon Italia at shannon@janfl.org or call (904) 398-9944, ext. 228.

“Businesses, organizations and individuals can help us make a difference in a student’s life by supporting us so we can give them the tools they need for economic success,” said Italia. “Our programs help shape the next generation and prepare them for the future by providing important lessons in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workplace readiness. We need the community’s support to help us continue this mission.”

In addition to serving as a fundraiser, JA of North Florida’s Hall of Fame is also a chance to honor outstanding individuals and businesses within the community. The awards presented at the event include the Thompson S. Baker Award, the Educator of the Year Award, the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Company of the Year Award.

The most prestigious award is the Thompson S. Baker “Solid as a Rock” Award which will be given to Andy Kaufmann, owner and CEO of Zawyer Sports. Kaufmann is the 24th recipient of the award which is given to an individual dedicated to bettering the community through leadership, hands-on involvement and philanthropic deeds. It was named after Thompson Baker, the founder of Florida Rock Industries and the awards first winner, who unselfishly contributed to the community.

Kaufmann is an entrepreneur who was exposed to business as a child by his father, his real-life hero and role model. He got his start helping in the family business as a young child by assembling emergency kits for his father who paid him in baseball cards. He went on to earn his degree in marketing from Emerson University and helped develop and support teams in the marine and outdoor industries before entering the world of sports entertainment. He currently serves as CEO/owner of the Jacksonville Icemen, Community First Igloo, and Savannah Ghost Pirates and is a minority owner of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

Kaufmann was chosen for the Thompson S. Baker Award because of his commitment to the city and the community. His values align with those of JA and he is a real-life example of what JA is trying to realize. He believes in the boundless potential of young people and is a true advocate for the programs that can help build a more sustainable world. Kaufmann, his wife Farah, and their two sons, Sawyer and Zachary, are active in the Jacksonville community. He is committed to raising his family here and to making Jacksonville a great place to live and thrive.

Three other awards will be presented at the Hall of Fame Luncheon. The Educator of the Year Award will be given to Deidre McNair-Pickney, a teacher at Duncan U. Fletcher High School. The Volunteer of the Year Award will go to Jason Miller from Johnson & Johnson Vision and the Company of the Year award will be presented to TIAA Bank.

Registration for the event is now underway. Guests can visit https://northflorida.ja.org/events/ja-of-north-florida-hall-of-fame to reserve their spot for the luncheon.

About Junior Achievement of North Florida

We envision a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Our volunteers, educators and supporters inspire and prepare students to succeed through learning experiences that focus on three sets of critical life skills that are not always taught in schools. Since 1963, Junior Achievement of North Florida has been delivering JA learning experiences that help young people reach their potential. To learn more about Junior Achievement of North Florida, visit www.janfl.org.