Junior Achievement Of Southern

Los Angeles, CA · Founded 1954

Preparing young people for economic success through experiential learning

Primary audience
Youth Community
Work area
Regional Programs
Topic
Career Development
Contact
Lester McCabe
Website Contact

About Organization

Inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy through programs teaching financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Based in Southern California, Junior Achievement delivers hands-on experiential learning programs to K-12 students throughout the region, with annual revenue of $1.9 million and support from volunteers helping students develop workforce readiness skills.

What They Focus On

Financial Literacy

Builds student competency in money management, budgeting, credit, and investment through experiential curriculum and simulations

Career Readiness

Prepares students for workforce through professional skills training, job shadowing, and connections with business mentors

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Cultivates innovation mindset, business thinking, and problem-solving skills preparing students for economic success

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$6.7M

+87.8% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$4.2M

+6.2% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$10.8M

+33.3% vs 2023

Employees (2024)

26

+8.3% vs 2023

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2024 $6,717,160 $4,191,189 $10,793,230 26
2023 $3,577,459 $3,946,274 $8,099,814 24
2022 $5,758,148 $3,454,690 $8,539,084 21
2020 $3,444,929 $2,335,810 $5,820,899 26
2019 $3,138,465 $3,293,801 $5,772,046 31
2018 $6,950,200 $3,433,093 $6,015,027 22
2017 $2,896,413 $3,333,100 $4,280,208 22

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Partnership Development

    Collaborates with schools across Southern California integrating programs aligned with educational standards

  • 02

    Volunteer Engagement

    Recruits and trains 1,593 corporate and community volunteers delivering programs and mentoring students

  • 03

    Experiential Learning

    Provides hands-on activities from classroom simulations to facility experiences and workplace job shadowing

  • 04

    Outcome Assessment

    Measures tangible results in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurial mindset development

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Junior Achievement Of Southern

In-Class Programs

Delivers volunteer-led curriculum in classrooms teaching financial literacy, business operations, and career planning to students ages 5-25

JA Finance Park

Provides immersive facility where students manage household budgets, pay bills, and make financial tradeoffs experiencing adult economics

JA Job Shadow

Connects students with professionals for workplace observation and career exploration building awareness of diverse pathways

3DE Schools Program

Operates innovative public high school model integrating work-based learning with academics revolutionizing college and career readiness

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Junior Achievement Of Southern.

Database Manager

Database Manager

Davit Barseghyan is JASoCal’s Database Manager for Los Angeles and the go-to person for all things data. He analyzes and reports financial and program data for day-to-day operations and ad hoc requests.When he’s not diving into data, you’ll find him under the hood of his car, fine-tuning engines, and racing towards the finish line.“When I was little, I wanted to be a racecar driver.”

Director of People & Culture

Director of People & Culture

Laura Machuca is JASoCal’s Director of Human Resources & Administration for Los Angeles. Reach out to her for any HR management functions, such as hiring, training, and supporting new employees. When she’s not having fun at work, she’s out traveling the world.

Director of Experiential Learning Centers

Director of Experiential Learning Centers

Christine Kunishige is director of Experiential Learning Centers for JASoCal’s capstone financial literacy program, JA Finance Park and JA Dream Accelerator. You can reach out to her if you are a middle or high school educator interested in bringing your students to these dynamic programs or if you are interested in volunteering for in one of these spaces. Christine has been in education for 16 years and loves supporting educators and empowering students.In her free time, Christine cheers for the Los Angeles Rams from home and at SoFi Stadium!“When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher.”

Rosie Manzo

Rosie Manzo

Development Associate (OC & IE)

Rosie Manzo is the Development Associate for Junior Achievement of Southern California, supporting the Orange County and Inland Empire region.

LM

Lester McCabe

President & CEO
Full-time
Compensation: $295,712
KK

Katiuska Kirkwood

Senior Vice President
Full-time
Compensation: $171,100
SS

Susan Sagheb

VP Of Finance
26 hrs/week
Compensation: $192,065
BO

Burgandie Onekea

Executive Regional Directo
Full-time
Compensation: $132,940

Milestones

1954

Chapter Established

1954

Founded as nonprofit business-integrated education partner serving students across Southern California region

2010s

Finance Park Opens

2010s

Launched JA Finance Park facility providing immersive budget simulation experiences for middle school students

2020s

3DE Schools Launch

2020s

Introduced innovative 3DE Schools model revolutionizing public high school education with work-based learning

2024

Expanded Impact

2024

Achieved $6.7 million revenue with $10.8 million in assets reaching over 50,000 students annually

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AB
Adam Bakhash Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
AG
Alexia G Henderson Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
AT
Ani Toroian Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
AB
Antonio Bernardo Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
AJ
Aric Johnstone Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
AA
Avo Amirian Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
BA
Belva Anakwenze Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
BB
Bob Binnie Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
BA
Brian Anderson Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
BG
Brian Gilpatrick Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
BD
Bryant Davis Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
CC
Carole Curb Nemoy Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
CG
Channing G Grigsby Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
CG
Chris Garcia Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
CG
Chris Gauss Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
CK
Christina Ketsoyan Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
CJ
Cynthia Jordan Board Member/3De Chair 1.00 hrs/week
DH
Daphne Helms Board Member/Treasurer 1.00 hrs/week
DG
Darcy Garcia Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
DF
David Freitag Board Member/Marketing Cha 1.00 hrs/week
EJ
Emily J Ramos Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
FM
Frank McMahon Board Member/Governance Ch 1.00 hrs/week
FB
Frida Bank Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
GD
Greg Davis Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
GC
Gregory Craig Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JK
Jennifer Kang-Moon Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JH
Jenny Ho Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JH
Joanne Hanson Bonney Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JA
John Adams Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JM
John McMichael Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JS
Joseph Santos Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
JS
Josh Schimmels Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
KH
Katherine Hunter-Blyden Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
KB
Kevin Bowens Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
KC
Kevin Caputo Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
KP
Kisha Parker Croom Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
KC
Kyle Casserino Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
KD
Kyle Delicata Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
LJ
Leeann J Lynch Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
LS
Leslie Stackpole Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
LK
Lisa Kaskel Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
LH
Lynn Hopton Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
MJ
Marcus Johnson Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
MK
Maria Khader Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
MS
Mark Simmons Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
MB
Maynard Brown Board Member/Education Cha 1.00 hrs/week
MJ
Monique Johnson Board Member/Vice Chair 1.00 hrs/week
PG
Paul Goldstein Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
RB
Ray Benaza Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
RO
Regina O'Neill Board Member/Secretary 1.00 hrs/week
SS
Sam Sheth Board Member/Development C 1.00 hrs/week
SB
Sandra Burns Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
SD
Sandra Dunleavy Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
SM
Scott M Sachs Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
SS
Scott Santoro Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
SS
Scott Sauer Board Member/Audit & Risk 1.00 hrs/week
SL
Sheena Lam Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
SI
Stephanie Ivy Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
TB
Taylor Beaupain Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
TH
Teresa Huggins Calderon Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
TM
Thomas McCarthy Board Member/Real Estate C 1.00 hrs/week
TO
Todd Orchard Board Member 1.00 hrs/week
TM
Tyler Messner Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$874K

Highest Paid

$327K

Lester Mccabe

Compensated Officers

4

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Lester Mccabe President & CEO $295,712 $31,583 $327,295 40
Katiuska Kirkwood Senior Vice President $171,100 $31,023 $202,123 40
Susan Sagheb VP Of Finance $192,065 — $192,065 26
Burgandie Onekea Executive Regional Directo $132,940 $19,755 $152,695 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$1.5M Grants Received
7 Organizations

Top Funders

7 total
TC
The Chicago Community Trust
$1.3M
AO
American Online Giving Foundation Inc.
$67K
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$40K
CA
Charities Aid Foundation America
$17K
TF
Tides Foundation
$10K
CF
California Foundation For Stronger
$10K
EG
Ecmc Group Inc.
$8K
The Chicago Community Trust American Online Giving Foundation Inc. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Charities Aid Foundation America Tides Foundation California Foundation For Stronger Ecmc Group Inc.
The Chicago Community Trust American Online Giving Foundation Inc. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Charities Aid Foundation America Tides Foundation California Foundation For Stronger Ecmc Group Inc.

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with Junior Achievement Of Southern

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(323) 957-1818

Social

Visit Website
6250 Forest Lawn Drive Los Angeles, CA 900681016