Shutts partners and guests recently attended the Junior Achievement of Central Florida’s inaugural Ticket to Heaven Prom Night. The event helped raise $50,000 for the JA Academy of Leadership & Entrepreneurship, a new magnet school in partnership with Orange County Public Schools that teaches students leadership and entrepreneurial skills through an integrated and challenging high school curriculum.
The highlight of the evening was a highly coveted raffle for a brand new BMW or $20,000 cash prize. In a serendipitous turn of events, Derrick Valkenburg and his wife Susana won the raffle. Derrick and Susana walked on stage to accept their prize and surprised the 400 business and civic leaders in the audience by announcing, without hesitation, that they were "gifting the car back to Junior Achievement" so the organization can pay for the full cost of education of four to five students.
Also in attendance of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s themed event were Bud Bennington, and wife, Donna; Bud’s guest, Robert Clements, Senior Assistant Attorney General, and wife; Eric Reed and wife, Carrie; Derrick Valkenburg and wife, Susana. Bud serves as a member of JA’s board of directors, and Eric Reed and Derrick are members of the Leadership Council.
About Junior Achievement of Central Florida
The mission of Junior Achievement is to empower young people to own their economic success by is a volunteer based program for K-12 that fosters work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. Read more about JA of Central Florida here.