Junior Achievement breaks ground on Phillips 66 JA Discovery Center

Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas is advancing its focus on financial readiness, thanks in large part to Phillips 66.

The nonprofit youth organization recently broke ground on the new Phillips 66 JA Discovery Center, a 40,000-square-foot facility that will serve as a hub for youth education and workforce readiness. The new building was made possible by a $5 million cornerstone donation from Phillips 66.

“Education equity is a cornerstone of our social impact strategy,” said Mark Lashier, Chairman and CEO of Phillips 66, during his remarks at the groundbreaking. “We create purposeful partnerships and invest in organizations like Junior Achievement because workforce preparedness is the foundation of individual achievement and our economic future.” Announced in 2023, the Phillips 66 donation represents one of the largest gifts the company has given to a single non-profit organization in its history. The new center will house Junior Achievement’s administrative offices and two of its flagship programs: JA BizTown and JA Finance Park.

“We are incredibly grateful for Phillips 66’s investment in the future of young people. Their visionary support enables us to provide students with real-world learning experiences that give students the building blocks that create a pathway to economic opportunity.”  

Joe Burke, president of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas

JA Finance Park offers a classroom-based curriculum that empowers students to make informed financial decisions and understand the link between education and earning potential. Since launching the second JA BizTown facility in the U.S. in 1999, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas has reached nearly half a million students with its hands-on learning experiences.

“In Houston, there’s no shortage of brilliant minds in underserved communities, just like there is across the population,” Lashier told the Houston Business Journal. “We want to make sure that all kids have a chance to realize their potential.”

Since 2012, Phillips 66 has contributed an additional $2.2 million to Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas. The Phillips 66 JA Discovery Center is expected to be completed by December 2025.