Stavros Institute

The Gus A. Stavros Institute is an organization founded in 1989 and named after Gus A. Stavros.[1] Located in Clearwater in Pinellas County, Florida, the institute is partnered with the Pinellas Education Foundation to run Enterprise Village and Finance Park, two economic educational programs.

"Enterprise Village" redirects here. For the similarly named nonprofit organization, see Village Enterprise.
Stavros Institute
Formation1989 (1989)
PurposeEducation
HeadquartersClearwater, Florida, United States
Area served
Pinellas County, Florida
Key people
Gus A. Stavros, co-founder
Patricia Jeremiah-Pittman, director
Websitestavrosinstitute.org

Programs

Enterprise Village

Enterprise Village was first proposed by former associate Superintendent of Education Dr. Howard Hinesley after visiting Exchange City, an economic educational facility in the form of a simulated town in Kansas City.[2][3] It was determined that state money could not be used to support a similar venture in Pinellas County, Florida, so the funds for Enterprise Village were raised by a coalition of local business leaders led by Gus A. Stavros.[2]

Established in 1989, Enterprise Village is designed for fifth-grade students.[4] After six weeks of in-classroom learning, fifth-grade students at participating Pinellas County schools visit Enterprise Village, an indoor facility of various artificial stores, where they learn to write checks, use debit cards, and apply for and work at mock-up versions of partnered companies like CVS Pharmacy, Home Shopping Network, McDonald's, the Tampa Bay Times, and Verizon.[5][6] During their breaks, the students can become consumers, being able to walk around the other stores and buy items with the artificial money they received from working at their jobs.[7][8] In the early 2000s, students could work at mock-ups of a Blockbuster Video and an Eckerd Drug Store,[9] but those now-defunct sponsors have since been replaced.

In 2002, baseball outfielder Jason Tyner was optioned from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a Triple-A team, resulting in the cancellation of a promotional giveaway involving 10,000 bobbleheads of Tyner.[10] After sitting in storage for some time, many of the bobbleheads were eventually donated to Enterprise Village.[11]

Finance Park

Finance Park is the eighth-grade equivalent of Enterprise Village, serving around 10,000 local students annually.[12] Modeled after the success of Enterprise Village, Finance Park has a focus on mathematics and decision-making skills, with the aim of teaching students how to manage a household budget, including insurance, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, utilities, and other expenses.[4][13][14][15] Students participating at Finance Park are challenged to pay all of their bills and balance their checkbooks by the end of their visit.[8] In October 2018, a facility representing the YMCA was opened in Finance Park. David Jezek, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, stated that "We are thrilled to partner in this manner, enhancing our impact on middle school students through financial literacy and health".[12]

  • The "town square", known as Stavros Square, in Enterprise Village.
  • The exterior of the building which houses Enterprise Village, as seen from the Stavros Institute's entrance.
  • The exterior of the building which houses Finance Park, as seen from the Stavros Institute's parking lot.

References
  1. Niebuhr, Keith (January 24, 2009). "Gus Stavros Institute celebrates 20 years teaching free enterprise". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  2. Fodiman 1990, p. 52.
  3. Ferguson, Kathy (November 2, 2004). "Board says farewell to Hinesley". Tbnweekly.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  4. Feldman, Kate (February 11, 2015). "Growing up quickly: Stavros Institute introduces students to adulthood". Tbnweekly.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. "Enterprise Village". Stavros Institute. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  6. "School Snapshots: Students work at Enterprise Village". Citrus County Chronicle. February 13, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  7. Fodiman 1990, p. 53.
  8. Pinnow, Charla (February 5, 2019). "They just might be your boss one day! We need your help to get them ready!". Stavros Institute. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  9. "Pinellas County Education Foundation Annual Report 2002" (Press release). Pinellas Education Foundation. 2002.
  10. Keri, Jonah (2011). The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First. Google Books: ESPN Books. p. 141. ISBN 978-0345517654.
  11. Topkin, Marc (March 25, 2018). "20 years of the Rays: The 20 weirdest moments". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  12. "YMCA "storefront" opens in the Stavros Institute in Largo". YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. October 18, 2018. Archived from the original on December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  13. "Finance Park". Stavros Institute. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  14. Katz, Taylor (May 20, 2012). "Finance Park educates eighth graders on budgeting basics". WTSP. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  15. Czarda, Stephen (June 4, 2016). "Redskins Rookies Attend Junior Achievement's Finance Park". Redskins.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.

Bibliography
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