Junior Achievement raises $55,000, meets challenge grant

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - It's been a good week for Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia.

Foot Levelers CEO Kent Greenawalt offered a $50,000 matching grant for the organization, if the match could be met in three business days.

Not only did the organization meet the threshold, it passed it, raising $55,000.

On Tuesday, Greenawalt presented Junior Achievement with a check for $50,000, making the total $105,000.

"Never underestimate the value of a deadline," said a smiling Greenawalt, who explained that people will work extra hard when faced with the need to complete a task on time.

Junior Achievement Executive Director Katherin Elam, said she was thrilled with the community support and the hard work of staff and volunteers in raising so much money in such a short amount of time.

Greenawalt, who was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame on November 1, made a spontaneous decision during his acceptance speech to offer the money if the community would match it.  He had made the offer on a Tuesday and challenged the organization to raise the funds by the end of that same week.


About the Author:

John Carlin co-anchors the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts on WSLS 10.