Paychex Foundation donates to Junior Achievement  

Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York will receive a grant of more than $250,000 from the Paychex Charitable Foundation to support its mission of inspiring and preparing the youth in Rochester and surrounding counties for long-term financial success. 

The gift is part of a $1 million grant from the Paychex Charitable Foundation to Junior Achievement USA, payable over four years, to support local Junior Achievement affiliates in key markets where Paychex has a high concentration of employees, including Rochester. 

“As a leading provider of HR, payroll, benefits and insurance solutions, we have a unique view of the financial challenges facing American workers – from trends in wages to 401(k) contributions,” said John Gibson, Paychex president and CEO. “We know that the foundation for financial literacy starts with educating today’s students. This gift to Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York will help in connecting thousands more young people with the financial wellness resources they need to safeguard their finances and plan for future economic success.” 

This is the third major gift given under the Paychex Charitable Foundation’s strategic giving framework focused on well-being, addressing mental health, physical health, financial health and professional skills development. This gift to Junior Achievement will benefit the financial health focus area.  

Paychex announced similar grants to Mental Health America and Feeding America to support emotional and physical well-being, in March and early May. 

Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York offered work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy resources and classes to 15,000 students across 90 schools in the region in 2022. 

In addition to this commitment from the Paychex Charitable Foundation, the company announced in 2022 that Paychex would be the naming rights sponsor of the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center, which is slated to open this fall.  

“An understanding of how money and the economy works can provide the foundation for a better life,” said Patricia Leva, Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York president and CEO. “This gift comes at a critical time for our organization, as the importance of financial health has been elevated by the events of the pandemic.” 

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