Junior Achievement of the Heartland is celebrating 70 years of helping local students build skills, confidence, and connections to succeed in school, work, and life.

The organization will host a 70th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, October 8, from 4–7 p.m. at the Free Enterprise Foundation JA Inspiration Center in Moline. The community is invited to stop by for an open house, bring a friend, and enjoy hands-on activities, hear stories from JA’s seven decades, and see how Junior Achievement continues to prepare students for what’s next.

Guests will receive a 70th Anniversary Passport to guide them through interactive stations and experiences throughout the JA Inspiration Center. They’ll be able to explore Junior Achievement BizTown and Junior Achievement Finance Park, visit displays highlighting JA’s history and impact, and connect with the volunteers, educators, business leaders, donors, alumni, and community partners who have helped shape the organization over the years. Guests who complete their passport will be entered to win his-and-hers watches from Necker’s Jewelers.

Junior Achievement of the Heartland was founded in 1956 with 155 students. Today, JA reaches almost 65,000 students each year across 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, bringing real-world learning experiences into classrooms, at the JA Inspiration Center, and through student events.

The anniversary also marks an opportunity to look ahead. Through hands-on experiences in money, business and the world of work, JA helps students develop skills and connections that can open doors and contribute to greater economic mobility.

“70 years is an incredible milestone, but what matters most is the impact behind those 70 years,” said Lysa Hegland, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Heartland. “Thousands of volunteers, educators, donors and community partners have helped make these experiences possible for generations of students. We’re excited to celebrate that history while looking ahead to what’s next for JA and the students we serve.”

The event is open to the community and free to attend. Guests are encouraged to bring a friend and stop by anytime between 4 and 7 p.m.

WHAT: Junior Achievement of the Heartland 70th Anniversary Celebration

WHEN: Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 4–7 p.m.

WHERE: JA Inspiration Center, 6600 44th Avenue, Suite 3 Moline, Illinois

COST: Free and open to the community

For more information about Junior Achievement of the Heartland and its 70th anniversary, visit heartland.ja.org.

About Junior Achievement of the Heartland

Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets, and is part of JA Worldwide, which serves over 19.9 million students in more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.ja.org.

Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Visit heartland.ja.org for more information.