CATHERINE “CAT” ZARATE HONORED WITH EMERGING LEADER AWARD
Dedicated Business Operations Manager for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Recognized by The Community Foundation
FORT MYERS, Fla. –Dec. 29, 2025 – Catherine “Cat” Zarate received the Emerging Leader award from The Community Foundation during the recent ENPY Awards ceremony. Zarate is the Business Operations Manager for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. This award recognizes rising stars in the nonprofit sector and celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional early-career excellence, initiative, and promise within the organization.
“Cat’s leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to students and community have made a lasting impact across Southwest Florida,” said Angela Fisher, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. “We are all so proud that Cat received this well-deserved recognition. She exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, heart, and vision.”
ENPY stands for “Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly” and highlights the efforts and impacts of those working in the nonprofit realm, as well as the community partners that support local charities. Zarate’s role at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida has helped the organization expand its JA Inspire Career Expos, champion inclusive programming, and strengthen civic education for our community.
For more information about Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and its programs, please visit www.jaswfl.org.
About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to preparing young people to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make informed academic and financial decisions. JA programs are delivered by business and community volunteers and provide hands-on experiences that teach students from kindergarten through high school critical skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. JA is also expanding its reach to pre-K learners and young adults ages 18 to 25 to ensure children gain a strong foundation and emerging adults are equipped for independent success.
Today, JA reaches more than 4.4 million students annually in 102 U.S. markets, contributing to a global network that serves 12.5 million students in over 100 countries. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.
Locally, during the 2024–2025 school year, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with hundreds of classroom volunteers to deliver 233,402 hours of instruction to 20,592 students across Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties. To learn more, visit www.JASWFL.org, call (239) 225-2590, or email [email protected].