FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 3, 2007
[Multiple photo opportunities available. All NFTE students have signed media releases on file.]
CONTACT: PAM GERBER (214) 773-1525, pgerber@efnt.org
Or LANET GREENHAW (214) 497-3152, lgreenhaw@hallfinancial.com
Dallas Area CEO’s Blitz Entrepreneurship Classrooms During
EntrepreneurshipWeek USA
DALLAS, TX—February 26, 2007— Twenty-two Dallas area CEO’s and senior business executives are joining together in an unprecedented effort to motivate more than 430 middle and high school students from low-income areas of Dallas during EntrepreneurshipWeek USA February 26 - March 2.
The week-long project, a joint effort between the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas (EFNT) and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) of Greater Dallas, is bringing guest entrepreneurs into 33 NFTE classrooms in 12 DISD and Irving ISD secondary schools to share their personal business experiences.
“These powerful area business leaders, all members of EFNT, will bring the real world of commerce to area students” said Pam Gerber, Director of EFNT. “ Our plan is to help them see themselves as entrepreneurial thinkers and doers, regardless of their background and current circumstances.”
“NFTE is working hard to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs, and this is an opportunity for our students to hear first-hand what it takes to be their own boss and to own their own business,” said NFTE Executive Director Lanet Greenhaw. “These high profile entrepreneurs are broadening their investment in our community by helping our young people see the endless possibilities available to them.”
In organizing the blitz of entrepreneurs, NFTE Program Director Karen Ezell challenged them to share how they got started in business, how they discovered their passion, what education they needed, what has been their biggest challenge, and what they would now do differently if starting again.
“I hope that by sharing my entrepreneurial business experience with these students they will be inspired to exceed what they think is their potential, or what they have been led to believe is their potential,“ said Jeff Smith, Founder of SensorLogic
Entrepreneurs, government officials, university and non-profit leaders, educators and economic development officials, representing more than 1,000 organizations and universities from across the country, have organized and are hosting activities in all 50 statues and in most major U.S. cities for EntrepreneurshipWeek USA. The goal is to inspire, educate and prepare young people to consider entrepreneurship and innovation in all aspects of their lives.
"Educating our young people about entrepreneurship and reinforcing the value that entrepreneurs and innovators bring to our economy is critical to America's long-term prosperity — more so now than ever
Add Two of Two
Dallas Area CEO’s Blitz Entrepreneurship Classrooms
before," said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation…one of the national sponsors of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, along with the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
EFNT guest entrepreneurs from companies including Metallect, Sevin Rosen Funds, Star Ventures, Lingualcare, HumCap, MHT Partners, TelaDoc, Whamtech, and Wireless & Mobile Communications will be visiting NFTE classrooms at Justin F. Kimball High School, Skyline High School, South Oak Cliff High School, H. Grady Spruce High School, Townview Center for Business & Management, Woodrow Wilson High School, W.T. White High School, E.D. Walker Middle School, Fred F. Florence Middle School, and D.A. Hulcy Middle School in DISD, and The Academy of Irving and MacArthur High School in Irving ISD.
NFTE Greater Dallas teaches entrepreneurship and financial literacy to middle and high school students from low-income communities with a goal of enhancing their economic productivity through improving their business, academic and life skills. More than 900 students are being served in 12 DISD and two Irving ISD schools, along with JrFinance and Girls Inc community-based organizations.
A fund of Communities Foundation of Texas, EFNT makes it easy for companies to connect with the nonprofit community in a way that’s good for business. EFNT has developed an exclusive network of “good corporate citizens” who network with peers, develop new business alliances and leverage EFNT as an outsourced community affairs department. From participating in large-scale community service days, to celebrating corporate community involvement, to attending workshops on donor education or community service, members have access to an array of resources to make good corporate citizenship an integral part of their company culture.
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