Board Members from Junior Achievement of New York Honored with Top National Award at 2024 JA USA Leadership Conference

[New York, NY, June 14, 2024] – Junior Achievement of New York is thrilled to announce that two of its board members have been honored with Gold Leadership Awards, the highest volunteer honor by Junior Achievement USA. Marie Gallagher, SVP & Controller at PepsiCo, was honored for her exceptional work with Junior Achievement of New York. Toby Singh Baba, VP / Senior Associate of Community Partnerships at Santander Bank, N.A. was recognized for his outstanding efforts with our neighbors at Junior Achievement of New Jersey. Toby's leadership and dedication have been instrumental in gathering and coordinating volunteers for both Junior Achievement of New Jersey and Junior Achievement of New York.

The Gold Leadership Award from Junior Achievement celebrates outstanding volunteers who have shown great leadership in helping JA impact students, improve resources, operations, and sustainability. It recognizes their volunteer service during the 2022-23 school year.

Marie Gallagher’s story is a delightful testament to the power of Junior Achievement. She not only met her husband through JA programming during her high school years but also, according to her mother, JA programming has played a crucial role in laying the foundation for Marie's impressive career. Her path led her to PepsiCo where she positioned herself as a key figure in nurturing the relationship between Junior Achievement of New York and the company, highlighting her ongoing commitment of youth education and empowerment.

"The support from our local business community is crucial for achieving our goal of inspiring and preparing young people for success in the global economy," remarked Betty Garger, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of New York. "Marie's contributions have been crucial in securing both funding and volunteers for Junior Achievement of New York. PepsiCo provides funding, strategic guidance, and corporate volunteers to bolster JA New York's programs and initiatives. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in nurturing and strengthening the enduring partnership between JA New York and PepsiCo, ensuring its continued vitality and productivity. Because of her support, thousands of students have been prepared to thrive in their economic pursuits.”

As a key member of the Hudson Valley Board, she facilitated its merger with JA New York and now serves on the JA New York Board of Directors and Lower Hudson Valley Regional Council, supporting programs and fundraising. Marie is also involved with PepsiCo's diversity initiatives and works to ensure JA's reach to students from diverse and low-income backgrounds.

Her story is a heartwarming reminder of the lasting impact JA can have both in fostering personal relationships and driving professional accomplishments.

About JA New York

Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York), an affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, is the leading non-profit organization in Greater New York dedicated to creating pathways to economic empowerment for local youth. With a mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy, JA New York provides experiential, interactive programs that teach and inspire young people to understand the economic world around them, plan for their financial futures, and reach their full potential.

For more information about JA New York, visit newyork.ja.org.

CONTACT:

Alisha Mikluch

Junior Achievement of New York

amikluch@jany.org