Dear Friends,
In 2018-19, we transformed the lives of 15,000 students in 430 schools across the U.S. by converting classrooms into vibrant workspaces where middle and high school students built businesses and invested in their futures. By launching and managing a business in a simulated work environment, VE students gained meaningful skills-based career experiences, developed in-demand skills and competencies, and identified career pathways that align with their interests, talents, and aspirations.
As our students develop, VE continues to develop as a program and organization. Our newest initiative, the VE Top 50, identifies the top companies in the program and allows us to measure how well we provide transformative experiences for students by tracking key engagement and achievement indicators.
At a time when the world of work is changing faster than ever before, VE serves a crucial role connecting education and industry. We’re constantly engaging industry leaders through our National Board of Directors, National Advisory Council, and corporate and postsecondary partnerships. Highlights of our partnerships from this past year include HSBC’s commitment of $1 million to help build the future workforce, New York Life Foundation’s renewed support of $750,000 for the VE-JV Career Academy, and Intuit’s pledge to provide access to QuickBooks and design-thinking curriculum for all VE classrooms across the U.S.
Since 1996, we have transformed the lives of more than 156,000 students. Through the talent and dedication of our teachers and school leaders, and with the support of our industry partners, donors, and volunteers, VE is able to provide students with authentic business experiences that cultivate fulfilling and financially secure futures. And as our students contribute to the vitality and success of our future workforce, we continue to transform lives and change the world, one student-run business at a time.
Sincerely,
Nick Chapman
President
Virtual Enterprises International
