BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- (Business Wire)
Thirteen Chambers of Commerce across the U.S. received $5,000 each in
startup funds to launch the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) in new
communities. The donation--$2,500 from Sam’s Club, matched by $2,500
from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF)—opens doors for
students across the country ages 11 to 18 to go through the process of
starting and launching a real business or social movement over the
course of an academic year.
YEA! is an innovative after-school educational program that works to
transform middle and high school students into confident entrepreneurs.
By the end of the 30-week class, students own and operate fully-formed
and functioning businesses, which may be carried on after their
graduation from the program.
Sam’s Club, USCCF and YEA! joined forces earlier this year to fuel
growth and support for youth entrepreneurship and the future of small
business in more than 100 U.S. communities. As a result of the
collaboration, 13 new YEA! chapters will launch this year with the
support of local Chambers of Commerce and the business community.
Funding provides the opportunity to launch an estimated 300 new
student-run businesses and provide hands on, experiential learning for
students in the YEA! program, spearheaded by the following funding
recipients:
-
Athens Chamber of Commerce, Athens, Texas
-
Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Alexander City, Alabama
-
Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, Loxahachee, Florida
-
Hannibal Chamber of Commerce, Hannibal, Missouri
-
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Lakeland, Florida
-
Montrose Chamber of Commerce, Montrose, Colorado
-
National Association of Women Business Owners Detroit & Detroit
Chamber of Commerce, Detroit, Michigan
-
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Paso Robles, California
-
Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield, Ohio
-
Templeton Chamber of Commerce, Templeton, California
-
Union County Economic Development Partnership, Marysville, Ohio
-
Harford County Chamber of Commerce, Bel Air, Maryland
-
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa, Florida
“Sam’s Club has helped small businesses startup and succeed since we
opened 32 years ago. We are thrilled to help the Young Entrepreneurs
Academy deliver entrepreneurial education to young people in the
communities we serve,” said Rosalind Brewer, CEO and President of Sam’s
Club.
“The U.S. Chamber Foundation is delighted to team up with YEA! and Sam’s
Club, and we look forward to together inspiring young people through the
spirit of the free enterprise system,” said Carolyn Cawley, managing
director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “By offering support for
these educational programs, we hope to emphasize what a powerful tool
entrepreneurship can be.”
YEA! was developed in 2004 at the University of Rochester in Rochester,
NY, with support from the Kauffman Foundation. YEA! now receives
national support from the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation
and Sam’s Club, to help promote the spirit of enterprise and build the
next generation of business leaders in communities all across the
country.
“YEA! will help Chambers of Commerce to fulfill their goals of
supporting small business development in their communities by training
their future leaders and helping them to establish strong, lasting
relationships with their hometown business communities,” says Gayle
Jagel, Founder & CEO, YEA!.“This program will enhance
business education for students and provide a unique, challenging and
fulfilling experience for all participants.”
During the 30-week commitment, students will brainstorm and form their
business ideas, make pitches to investors for startup funding, file
their DBAs, and launch their own businesses or social movements. Mentors
and local entrepreneurs across a variety of industries, such as graphic
design, web development, law, accounting, retail, manufacturing,
technology and more are invited to support the students throughout the
hands-on curriculum as mentors, field trip hosts or guest lecturers.
Student applications are now being accepted. For more information visit
yeausa.org, contact info@yeausa.org
or call 585-272-3535.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a 501(C) 3 offering
groundbreaking year-long classes that teach middle and high school
students how to start and run their own businesses. Throughout the
class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct
market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors for startup
funds, and launch and run their own, fully formed companies and social
movements. The project-based program empowers students to take charge of
their futures.
Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the
Kauffman Foundation, YEA! today serves thousands of students nationwide.
In 2011, the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation became a
national sponsor and partner of the Academy to help celebrate the spirit
of enterprise among today's youth and tomorrow's future leaders.
YEA! bridges the business and educational communities to fulfill its
mission of teaching more students how to make a job, not just take a
job. YEA! is made possible by The Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce Foundation and the E. Philip Saunders Foundation. For more
information, visit yeausa.org.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening
America’s long-term competitiveness and educating the public on how the
free enterprise system improves society and the economy.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation
representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all
sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and
industry associations.
About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a
leading membership warehouse club offering savings and benefits to
millions of members in 653 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Sam’s Club
offers affordable access to innovative benefits for families and small
business owners, including travel, payroll and HR services, online
marketing and legal solutions, cash rewards and more. To learn more
about saving time and money with Sam’s Club, visit SamsClub.com/benefits.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150924005298/en/
Contacts:
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
Wendy Ferrer, 585-272-3535
wferrer@yeausa.org
or
Sam’s
Club
Carrie Foster Moore, 1-800-331-0085
carrie.foster@samsclub.com
Source: Sam’s Club
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