2024-2025
Annual Report
Our Collective Impact
Empowering youth, building futures through collaboration
Welcome
At JA Central Ontario, our impact goes far beyond the classroom — it creates a ripple effect that strengthens entire communities. By equipping youth with essential skills in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness, we’re helping to shape the business owners, innovators, and finance leaders of tomorrow.
The result is lasting: stronger local economies, empowered individuals, and a future driven by confident, capable young leaders prepared to succeed in a global economy.
We are better together.
That belief inspired focused action throughout 2024–2025, resulting in:
- 61,261 high-impact learning experiences for children and youth
- 1,993 classes engaged across 483 schools in Central Ontario
This success was made possible by strong community connections and the dedicated support of volunteers, educators, and partners who share our commitment to empowering youth.
A Message from the Chair of our Board of Director our and President & CEO
Our JA Central Ontario community is vibrant and full of promise. As we look to the future, we do so with confidence and optimism.
In 2024–2025, with the support of our engaged network of educators, volunteers, alumni, funders, and partners, we empowered thousands of young people to develop the skills, confidence, and networks they need to shape their futures.
These collaborative relationships are the foundation of our impact. The generous financial support, dedicated volunteer leadership, and real-world learning experiences make everything we do possible — and for this, we are truly grateful.
Supporting Youth Together
This work is only possible thanks to the 1,816 dedicated volunteers, passionate educators, community organizations, funders, and our committed staff.
Together, we help young people pursue their goals, lead with purpose, and step confidently into the future. Your support is building a generation of youth ready to seize new opportunities and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Strategy in Action
Guided by our strategic plan, Empowering a New Generation, we took focused steps to expand our reach and deepen our impact. Highlights include:
- Expanding Boundless Potential in Brampton, in partnership with the Brampton Board of Trade, to bring JA learning experiences to more students.
- Partnering with Yonge Street Mission to deliver JA Our Business World and Economics for Success to youth in Regent Park and surrounding areas.
- Hosting Empowering Young Women, a sponsor-supported event that connected female-identifying students with mentors and funders to spark mentorship and career exploration.
These initiatives reflect our commitment to cross-sector collaboration and building a more connected support system for youth across Central Ontario.
Empowering Future Leaders
Together, we are creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation to thrive.
At JA Central Ontario, we know no single organization can do this alone. By working with schools, businesses, government, and community organizations, we can expand access, deepen impact, and help more youth unlock their full potential.
Building on the success of Boundless Potential in Brampton, we are now working to bring this model to new communities like Barrie, reaching even more young people across the region.
To all our valued collaborators: thank you. We look forward to continuing this important work with you — expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and strengthening our shared foundation.
Get Involved!
If you’re new to JA Central Ontario, we invite you to become part of our mission — as a volunteer, donor, or partner. Together, we’re building a future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
With gratitude,
Rhonda Klosler
Chair, Board of Directors
Kim Charteris
President & CEO
F25 Impact
Snapshot
Fulfilling Purpose:
Impact In Action
94%
JA Company Program students better understand the risks, rewards, and ethical standard of starting a business. 1
97%
JA Career Accelerator participants say they have increased confidence in showcasing their skills and personal brand. 2
80%
Students’ knowledge of essential life skills, including budgeting, financial planning and job preparedness was strengthened by completing JA’s Economics for Success. 3
1 JA Central Ontario Evaluation Report (Openly, 2024).
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
Seeding Change
We advanced our strategic outreach by fostering equitable access to meaningful, real-world learning opportunities, including:
Region and Reach
JA Central Ontario is a registered charity, serving the Dufferin, Durham, Halton, Peel, Toronto, York and Simcoe regions. We are part of one of the world’s largest and most impactful youth-serving NGOs, JA Worldwide, and work closely with our national network, JA Canada.
We prepare students for success in three key areas of learning: work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. From entry-level skill development to work placements and running their own business.
Inspire, Prepare, Succeed
We want to be there for each step of a student’s learning journey as they develop the skills needed to reach their goals. That’s why we group our learning experiences into three categories: Inspire, Prepare, or Succeed. From initial inspiration to achieving mastery of skills, their participation sets them up for success.
This year we welcomed students in more than 61,000 JA learning experiences, exceeding our goal by 11%:
JA Highlights in F25
Events and Highlights
JA CAMP SUCCESS: AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
In June, JA Central Ontario, with support from the Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich Canada, and JA Canada, hosted JA Camp Success. Students in grades 9–11 from across Canada gathered in rural Ontario for JA Camp Success 2025. This three-day experience included interactive workshops and outdoor activities designed to build resilience, confidence, and community through hands-on learning.
Students took part in various team-building activities—from high ropes courses to compass orienteering—focused on developing leadership, trust, and collaboration. Workshops on mental wellness provided space for open conversations about mental health, emphasizing that resilience requires both emotional strength and practical skills.
EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN+ EVENT
In March, 140 female-identifying students from schools across Central Ontario connected with 80+ industry leaders for a day of mentorship, career insights, and allyship at Empowering Young Women+. Through inspiring talks and interactive adaptability workshops, they explored resilience, career options, and the power of making their voices heard.
HANDS-ON LEARNING AT JA WORLD OF CHOICES SKILLED TRADES SUMMIT
Students dove into real-world experiences at the JA World of Choices Skilled Trades Summit, exploring electrical, plumbing and carpentry through hands-on workshops. With growing demand in skilled trades across Canada, this immersive learning experience empowered youth to explore exciting career pathways, with confidence and curiosity.
TOPSHELF NAMED 2025 CANADIAN COMPANY OF THE YEAR
A group of 25 high school students from the JA Company Program formed Top Shelf, a company dedicated to making reading a part of everyone’s daily life. They created a book series and sold over 270 books! Represented by team members Eva C., Hudson L., and William V. at the national Company of the Year competition, they delivered a clear problem-solution pitch and showcased a thoughtful branding strategy, impressing the judges with their strong grasp of business concepts. As a result, Top Shelf was named the 2025 Canadian Company of the Year! In November, they will represent Canada at the JA Americas Company of the Year event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Work Readiness
Preparing for the Future
The world of work is changing quickly. This year, our volunteer-led, interactive learning opportunities prepared youth for the jobs and economy of the future. Accomplished business volunteers bring their real-world work experience into the classroom, creating connections between the critical skills students are learning and how they can apply it in their own career journey.
Whether students are considering attending college, trade school, university or entering the workforce as their next step, JA students are ready to make their goals for the future a reality.
Feature Highlight
- JA CAREER ACCELERATOR CLASS OF 2023–2025
The JA Career Accelerator Class of 2023–2025 concluded their two-year journey with a two-day JA Job Shadow experience hosted by Zurich Canada. Over 150 high school students stepped into the professional world to gain practical insights on resumes, interviews, and personal branding—showing up ready to make it count. Throughout the program, students took part in a series of learning experiences that equipped them with essential workplace skills, valuable mentorship, and career-building opportunities.
Thank you to the program supporters: Zurich Canada and Zurich Foundation.
Empowering Young Women+ participants say they better understand1
91%
how to plan for their career.
97%
the different career options that are available to them.
94%
of Career Accelerator participants say they feel more confident navigating and working through real world business challenges. 2
83%
of JA’s Economics for Success students are confident they have the skills to plan the future they want. 3
88%
of teachers say that JA has had a positive impact on students. 4
1 Empowering Young Women+ Participant Survey, 2025.
2 JA Central Ontario Evaluation Report (Openly, June 2025).
3 JA Economics for Success survey, Crestview, 2021.
4 JA programs survey, 2022.
Financial Literacy
Fostering Knowledge and Understanding
Students who participate in JA’s hands-on learning experiences learn practical skills like budgeting, saving and starting a business — but they also learn adaptability, creativity, problem-solving and a host of interpersonal tools too. They not only learn personal money management skills, but how finances show up in the world of work and entrepreneurship. Understanding these concepts prepares them for lifelong financial health.
Economics for Success participants say5:
5 JA Central Ontario Evaluation Report (Openly, June 2025)
Feature Highlight
- THE NOPAQUE TEAM — MOHAMMED A., RUSIRU M., RUVIN M., ANTHARV M.
from St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School had a clear vision for their business: to provide affordable and quality vision solutions to underserved communities, ultimately aiming to bridge gaps in accessibility while championing sustainability. Their hard work paid off when they won the Fall 2024 JA Pitch Your Vision competition!
“I admire how this competition allowed me to build on the years of hard work and learning I’ve put into school, incorporating it into a meaningful way to help the world,” says NOpaque team member Mohammed A.
Through JA Pitch Your Vision, high school students across Central Ontario refine their business ideas while developing teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills—all critical for success in today’s fast-changing world.
Thank you to the program supporters: Church & Dwight
I had the privilege of participating in a fantastic volunteering opportunity, spending an interactive and fun day with Grade 8 students. It was inspiring to engage with these bright young minds, showcasing the potential paths they can take in their future careers. It’s not just about mentoring; it’s about empowering the emerging talent of tomorrow!”
- Nupur Poddar, KPMG Canada Volunteer for JA’s Economics for Success
Entrepreneurship
Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Creating a career of your own making is both an ambitious and realistic goal. JA programs continue to teach essential skills in financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Students launch their idea to the world. Throughout these real-world learning opportunities, they develop business and leadership knowledge.
JA Company Program students say6:
6 JA Central Ontario Evaluation Report (Openly, June 2025)
BizCafé students say:
Feature Highlight
- THE NOPAQUE TEAM — MOHAMMED A., RUSIRU M., RUVIN M., ANTHARV M.
Tanry W. first discovered JA Company Program through a school presentation in grade 11. She was instantly hooked, especially knowing that the program was accessible and offered at no cost thanks to the support of community businesses who sponsored the program. Through pitching, selling and managing a team, Tanry says that JA pushed her to grow in ways she didn’t expect. With the support of her advisors and peers, she learned to trust her team, create space for collaboration and lead with empathy and purpose.
She says her learning was enhanced by the mentorship offered by the advisors every step of the way. Her advice to future students: “Just do it! Be decisive and take that risk, that’s where you’ll grow.”
“I walked into my first JA Company Program meeting at 15, knowing no one. I walk out three years later an adult, with a voice, a vision, and the belief that I can make an impact. JA didn’t just teach me business, it taught me how to believe in myself.”
- Jack M., JA Company Program participant
“In a world that associates leadership with authority, I have learned that the true art of the practice lies in using your head, heart and hands.”
- Si Ya L., 2025 JA Company Program Changemaker Award winner
“Experiencing a start-up simulation was really fun. I enjoyed all aspects of making decisions and improving operations based on feedback and daily performance.”
- grade 10 BizCafé participant from Abbey Park High School
In Their Own Words
Volunteers
“I look forward to volunteering each time. It’s always a different experience and it’s fun to see the students so energized, inspired and optimistic.”
– Jeffrey Lyons is a dedicated JA volunteer and a JA Company Program alum 50 years ago who brings his entrepreneurial spirit, joy and deep care for students into every classroom
“As much as I invest in myself, I like to invest in others because collectively we can become better.”
– Persia Khodarahmi,
Volunteer Advisor and former JA student
“Joining JA’s Company Program as a volunteer advisor has honed my skills across technical, business and leadership. My mentoring skills have improved by knowing when to step back and allow the students to grow and when to step in when they need my assistance. My network has also expanded by meeting other advisors in and outside the team.”
– Melanie Laygo, Scotiabank
“As a volunteer, seeing how eager and involved the students were to learn how to save and invest money was inspiring. Being smart with money is an important skill to have.”
– Ceilidh Parsons, Questrade
Students and Educators
“Over time, I’ve seen how small changes in the way that we respect and treat each other make a big difference. I brought more than just ideas, I brought heart, and that’s the impact that I’m most proud of. I’ll be honoured to carry that forward, beyond this program.”
– Ben S., 2025 JA Company Program Changemaker Award winner
“The best part of the event was speaking with the mentors, especially the younger ones because they’ve experienced school and work life that will be the same or similar to what I will be doing in post-secondary.”
– Participant, Empowering Young Women+
“Students learned more [through] JA BizCafé compared to what they would learn from the textbook. They were engaged, active and participating in the simulation.”
– Grade 10 teacher
Partners
BMO
“We’re committed to doing our part to build a thriving economy, a sustainable future, and an inclusive society. Partnering with JA Central Ontario is a great example of how we work with our community to deliver on these goals.”
– Derek Vernon, BMO and member of JA Central Ontario’s Board of Governors
Zurich Canada
“The most rewarding part of being involved with the JA Career Accelerator has been having career conversations with the youth. Personally, I didn’t really have anyone I could talk to for advice, expertise or guidance. Being able to provide that for someone else is truly rewarding.”
– Shamita Kumar, Zurich Canada and member of JA Central Ontario’s Board of Governors
Aecon
“Aecon and JA’s missions are tightly aligned – both are passionate about bringing career opportunities to students. For Aecon, we are focused on engaging students to showcase the wide variety of opportunities in Infrastructure, and the many benefits of working in the trades.”
– Nicole Court, Aecon Group Inc., and member of JA Central Ontario’s Board of Directors
CIBC
“Students come back and tell us that the exposure and experience they received while in JA’s programs helped them write business plans in university business programs. Just as importantly, it gives all students exposure to the planning, skills, and collaboration it takes to write a business plan and execute on it. This insight is invaluable in both entrepreneurship and the demands of working in a business.”
– Marianne Grimaldi, CIBC and JA Company Program lead advisor
Questrade
“Children need to learn how the financial system works and the sooner we get them started, the sooner they’ll understand and it sets them up for success. When I go out and see the kids in school, they’re very bright, they’re passionate and they want to learn. I’m so honoured to be part of this journey with Questrade and JA to help kids understand and take control of their financial future.”
– Leo Khan, Questrade and JA Central Ontario volunteer
RBC Investor services
“The future looks bright, indeed! It was a pleasure partnering with JA Central Ontario to host their personal finance learning program in our Toronto office last week. Having the confidence and understanding of financial concepts and the skills needed to make informed decisions about finances is the cornerstone of independence.
After speaking with the students’ teachers and watching them engage with our dedicated RBC Investor Services volunteers, I continue to be optimistic about the future - our youth will be great future Canadian leaders. Investing in them matters.”
– Claire Johnson, RBC Investor Services
Cognizant
“We’re proud supporters of JA Central Ontario and their commitment to educate and train the future of Canada, making sure they are prepared for the workplace with digital, entrepreneurial and financial skills. These are future CEOs, CFOs and small business owners who are going to transform the economy in Canada and in the world. It’s important for companies like Cognizant to make this commitment to support organizations so that we are building a stronger and more vibrant workforce.”
– Davis Abraham, former Social Impact Director at Cognizant
Moneris
“Moneris had the honour of partnering with JA Central Ontario for their Empowering Young Women+ event. We joined 80 professionals from a wide range of industries and backgrounds to share insights, stories and encouragement with the next generation of women leaders. The day was filled with meaningful conversations, thoughtful questions and powerful moments of connection.
At Moneris, we believe in the power of representation and mentorship and we’re proud to support opportunities that help young women see what’s possible for their future. Thank you to JA Central Ontario for creating space for meaningful conversations and inspiring change.”
Thank You
Volunteers, Donors, Corporate and Community Partners
We are enormously grateful to everyone who supported JA Central Ontario financially this year. Investing in the development of youth is vitally important to our shared future. By choosing to invest in JA, you are making a difference in the lives of local youth and they will benefit from your support for years to come. Our thanks and appreciation go out to all the individuals and partner organizations who share our mission and invest their time, expertise and funds to make an impact by empowering the next generation of community leaders.
Corporate & Foundation Partners
JA’s partnerships with leading corporations and businesses are at the heart of our impact. Our partners provide vital funds to fuel our mission, and through employee volunteers they bring our experiences to life.
Changemakers ($80,000+)
Champions ($50,000-$79,999)
Innovators ($20,000-$49,999)
Accelerators (Up to $19,999)
Amazon Canada
Enterprise Mobility
ADP
Continental Casualty Company (CNA Canada)
Mississauga Foundation
Rossy Foundation
AEO Better World Foundation
Wells Fargo Securities Canada Ltd.
Export Development Canada (EDC)
Burgundy Asset Management
Cushman Wakefield
International Financial Data Services
PepsiCo Foundation
Barclays
A. W. B. Charitable Foundation
Fundserv
KingSett Capital
Moneris
State Street Corporation
TC Energy
Carthy Foundation
Accenture plc
Volvo Financial Services
AIG
Actuarial Foundation of Canada
Albourne Partners Limited
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Jones DesLauriers Insurance
Management Inc.
RBC Investor Services Trust
Sunlife
Coerente Capital Management
Ernst & Young
Lexus on the Park / Toyota on the Park
Altus Group
CIRO
Fairstone
Hosper Mortgage
Instar Asset Management Inc.
Interac
National Bank of Canada
RBC Insurance
The Starke Group
Thomas, Large and Singer (TLS)
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Legacy Fund
RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada
American Express Canada
990 Capital Management
United Way Greater Toronto
CIRA Community Investment Program
S.M. Blair Family Foundation
Lakeside Process Controls
Imperial Oil
Coca-Cola Canada
McCall MacBain Foundation
Bramalea City Centre
Chartered Professional
Accountants of Ontario (CPA)
Avanade Inc.
Shopify
Dexterra Group
Sheridan College
Individual Donors
With your generous contributions, you are empowering thousands of students across our region.
LEADERS ($5,000 AND ABOVE)
Dean Percy
Chris Cornell
Fabricio Naranjo
Gary and Joanne Reamey
ENABLERS ($2,500-$4,999)
Andy Burgess
Anthony Boright
Melissa McGuire
David Dalziel
Katherine MacMillan
INFLUENCERS ($500-$2,499)
Karim Kanji
Kathy Falconi
Katya Shabanova
Kim Charteris
Maria Pavlakos
Mark Adams
Prashant Matta
Rhonda Klosler
Rino D'Onofrio
Ryan Fagan
Stephen Jurisic
Hitesh Peshavaria
Amy Flood
Jamal Pascall
James Hicks
Jane Eisbrenner
Jean Desgagne
Michael Tucker
Sophia Tolias
Kent Patterson
Patricia Poirier
Adam Ashby
Cailey Heaps
Catherine Bongard
Cameron Murray
Diang Lu
Daniel Shum
Manasi Paliwal
Mark Andress
Michelle Cowan
Nichole Court
Robert Baillie
Robert Morash
Sally Tripp
Stuart Lombard
Vivian Leung
MOTIVATORS ($100-$400)
Anthony Lau
Cathleen Hughes
Colin Smillie
David Burnie
David Louis
Doug Scott
Eric Stern
Francesca Guolo
Gianni Scarpino
Greyhill Captial Partners
Heather and Mark Kenney
James Unknown
Janet Bannister
Jennifer Holmes Weier
Julia Holland
Maria Hutner
Meg Connell Kevin French
Nick Boland
Sara Chin
Sasha Darling
Scott MacNicol
Isabelle Therrien
Manjit Singh
Michael Charney
Nancy King
Natalie Poissant
Paul Lynch
Roy Graham Coburn
Viney Bansal
Alex Tindale
Andre Orbe
Andrew Forbes
Andrew Young
Angela Unknown
Aruna Koushik
Asadul Ashraf
Brett Starke
Carolyn Meacher
Chris Galea
Cleodine Smith
Crystal Kyabaggu
Daniela Profiti
Debra Smith
Faizal Vepari
Gabe Hayos
Garaldina Rodricks
Graeme Markell
Gurjinder Dhadwar
James Bray
Jane Kelly
Jane Manansala
Janne Farias
Jeremy Richardson
Jeremy Walker
John Dill
Katherine Dalziel
Katherine Falconi
Ken Le
Kishan Rajagunathas
Lesley Tulipano
Lorri Detta
Margaret Cologna
Marion Leung
Miriam Myers
Mitchell Fong
Patrick Dacko
Rachel Wong
Ray Chan
Rohit Tamhane
Rui Li
Ruth Cummings
Sally Zhu
Steve lyers Sue Grantis
Tom Fung
Tom Grantis
Vernon Smith
JA Central Ontario Staff
As of June 30, 2025
Kim Charteris
President and CEO
Simone Cowdery
Senior Director, Programs
Lorri Detta
Senior Director, Finance and Operations
Nichole Quan
Director, Corporate & Community Partnerships
Tina Kessler
Lead, Campaign and Events
Natalie Poissant
Lead, Corporate Partnerships
Stephanie Kipfer
Lead, In-School Programs
Lucia Ly
Lead, Company Program
Lesley Tulipano
Lead, In-school Experiences (on leave)
Michelle Belanger
Lead, Programs & Volunteers
Natalie Williams
Lead, Brampton Partnerships
Hamdi Kalifa
Salesforce Administrator
Sunny Nguyen
Associate, Marketing & Communications
Theodora Doukas
Associate, Program Events
Mysha Raida
Associate, Programs
Nikita Simone
Associate, Programs
Karen Sun
Accountant
The 2024–2025 fiscal year saw incredible support from the wider JA community.
Our new fundraising strategy encouraged supporters to fundraise their way for JA – they innovatively engaged their networks to raise funds and exceeded our fundraising goal for individual donations. Although the organization faced challenges in raising funds to support educational and fundraising events, we saw an increase in support for in-school learning experiences through corporate funding.
Our revenue was comprised of a mix of donations from corporate partners, generous individuals and community supporters, foundation grants and multi-year service delivery funding agreements.
Financial Information
