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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: January 24, 2008
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT TO
INDUCT SIX BUSINESS LEADERS INTO ITS U.S. BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
2008 honorees include
NASCAR founder France, eBay CEO Whitman.
Colorado Springs, Colo. – Junior
Achievement today announced the inductees into its 2008 U.S.
Business Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors
awarded for success in the business world. Junior Achievement
selects inductees for their business excellence, courageous
thinking and actions, vision and innovation, inspiring
leadership, and philanthropy. The 2008 Junior Achievement U.S.
Business Hall of Fame laureates are:
• William H.G. France (1909-1992): Founder
and President, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
(NASCAR)
• Thomas F. Frist Jr., M.D.: Co-founder,
Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
• Robert L. Johnson: Founder, Black
Entertainment Television; Owner, Charlotte Bobcats NBA
franchise; Founder and Chairman, The RLJ Companies
• John E. Pepper Jr.: Retired Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, The Procter & Gamble Company; Chairman
of the Board, The Walt Disney Company
• Al Neuharth: Founder, USA TODAY; Founder
and former Chairman, The Freedom Forum; Retired Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, Gannett Co., Inc.
• Meg Whitman: President and Chief
Executive Officer, eBay Inc.
“Junior Achievement strongly believes in
providing positive role models for our young people. Whether
they are a JA volunteer in the classroom teaching students how
to start and grow a business, or an honoree of our U.S. Business
Hall of Fame, they can inspire kids to succeed,” said Sean C.
Rush, president and chief executive officer of Junior
Achievement. “Our kids need these positive influences now more
than ever, so we are thrilled to honor these worthy business
leaders not only for their success in the business world, but
also for their success in inspiring our young people.
According to a new survey conducted by
Harris Interactive on behalf of Junior Achievement, nearly
two-thirds (64 percent) of teens said they have a role model.
When asked what qualities they looked for in a role model, the
top three responses were: “truly cares about others,” “is not
afraid of failure,” and “tries to positively impact society
through his/her business practices.”
The 2008 laureates will be honored at a
black-tie gala on April 9 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in
Nashville, Tenn. For more information about the U.S. Business
Hall of Fame, visit
www.ja.org.
Photos and bios of the 2008 U.S.
Business Hall of Fame are available upon request.
About Junior Achievement® (JA)
JA Worldwide is the world's largest
organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people
to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer
network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school
programs for students which focus on three key content areas:
work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today,
139 individual area operations reach more than four million
students in the United States, with an additional 4.3 million
students served by operations in 114 other countries worldwide.
For more information, visit
www.ja.org.
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