Sponsor Vector Security Joins Junior Achievement of Pennsylvania to Celebrate Grand Opening of JA BizTown®

SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, PA, January 29, 2020 – Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania (JA of Western PA) today celebrated the grand opening and first student visit to JA BizTown®, a fully-interactive, true-to-life simulation that recreates the day-to-day functions of thriving communities. Vector Security was one of more than two dozen top regional businesses that have come together and invested millions to create this powerful experience that will inspire students to dream big and reach their full potential.

“Nothing is more important than connecting the dots between what children learn in school and how it’s applied in the real world. Children need to be immersed in experiences that go beyond the four walls of a classroom,” said Dennis Gilfoyle, President and CEO at JA of Western PA. “That’s where JA BizTown® comes in. This dress rehearsal for life allows students the opportunity to test drive one of nearly 120 jobs that make up our local economy and learn first-hand how to manage a business, earn a paycheck, and work in a community.”

A grand opening celebration and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held immediately before 80 students from Claysville Elementary in Claysville, Pa. became the first 'citizens' for a day at JA BizTown®. In its first semester of operations, the 10,000 square foot mini-city is expected to host 3,000 students in grades four through six from 22 schools in the greater Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown/Altoona regions.

The journey to JA BizTown® begins in the classroom, where the students studied the basic economic principles at play in every community. During their four and a half hour simulation at JA BizTown®, the students completed a day’s work, developed a personal budget, and much more with support from volunteers and mentors.

“We are excited to officially open the door on our Vector Security storefront at JA BizTown today, allowing students to demonstrate and manage the latest in security and smart automation offerings,” said Art Miller, VP of Marketing for Vector Security. “Our teams look forward to volunteering and mentoring these students and opening them up to new career choices that they may not have considered.”

The Vector Security storefront will include security and automation products for students to demonstrate to other student patrons. In addition, all JA BizTown storefronts will be equipped with “security” for student technicians to arm and disarm at the start and end of every BizTown day.

Vector Security has also provided the security and access control for the Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania headquarters where JA BizTown resides.

About Vector Security
For nearly 50 years, Vector Security, Inc. (www.vectorsecurity.com) has been a premier provider of intelligent security solutions tailored to the needs of the customer. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the company offers a full suite of electronic security services for residential, business and national account customers across North America and the Caribbean through a network of branches, authorized dealers and their ADS Security division. The Vector Security Networks division offers customized physical security and managed network services to multi-site commercial customers. Vector Security is a sister company of the Philadelphia Contributionship, a mutual insurance company founded in 1752, and currently provides cost-effective, technology-based security and automation solutions to nearly 400,000 homes and businesses across 58 branch locations.

About Junior Achievement® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to providing young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. With the help of corporate and community, mentor volunteers, we are changing the game for our region’s youth with relevant, experiential education in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, Junior Achievement of Western PA serves nearly 70,000 students through some 3,000 local volunteers. Learn more at www.JAWesternPA.org.

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