[October 19, 2012]

National Awards to Honor Young Entrepreneurs for Success in Pursuing "Profit with Purpose"

The Hitachi (News - Alert) Foundation:

WHAT: The third annual Hitachi Foundation's Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program recognizes entrepreneurs with proven track records in building sustainable businesses that also focus on alleviating poverty in America. The awards dinner is the first in a series of national conferences that will bring hundreds of entrepreneurs, impact investors, and business leaders to New York that week. Reflecting a surging trend, the common goal is to promote viable business models that also simultaneously address urgent social issues such as poverty, the environment, education, community health, and sustainable workforce practices.

In addition to a $40,000 grant, Yoshiyama awardees are provided with leadership development, business mentoring, technical assistance, and access to a network of peers and business advisers.

WHEN: Monday, October 22nd at 6:30 PM. Media dinner seating is limited and requires advance registration. Pre- and Post Event Interviews Available

WHERE: Park Central Hotel 870 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY

WHO: The 2012 Awardees are:

• Shane Gring and Stephen Lepke, BOULD LLC: BOULD utilizes partnerships with affordable housing builders such as Habitat for Humanity to provide comprehensive project experience and continuous education programming in meeting the sustainable housing needs of low-wealth individuals.
• John Piercy, Neighbor Capital: Neighbor Capital is a social-purpose business that creates job opportunities for the unemplyed and underemployed. Through its network of leased Neighbor Carts, the business brings healthy foods to urban "food deserts" and lower-wealth neighborhoods in Chicago.
• Cody Hopkins, Falling Sky Farm: Falling Sky Farm is a small, diversified grass-based livestock farm located 100 miles north of Little Rock in the Ozark Mountains. It aims to establish a profitable, environmentally-friendly demonstration farm, which promotes a local food system that produces great tasting, nutrient rich foods; works in harmony with nature; and reinvigorates the local economy, all while meeting the health and nutritional needs of low-income and underserved rural individuals and families.
• Vanessa Bartram, WorkSquare: WorkSquare is dedicated to improving persistent conditions surrounding low-wage workers in South Florida. In addition to job placement, the enterprise empowers its job seekers by providing work readiness support, financial literacy training, and skill building for upward mobility.

The Hitachi Foundation

Since its founding in 1987, The Hitachi Foundation has evolved into one of this nation's philanthropic leaders in the field of corporate social responsibility with a special focus on expanding business practices that create tangible and enduring economic opportunities for low-wealth Americans, their families and the communities in which they reside. The Foundation believes that business has an essential role to play in addressing the many complex global challenges of our time. Its mission is to forge an authentic integration of business actions and societal well being the United States by discovering and expanding business practices that measurably improve people's lives and enhance business value. www.hitachifoundation.org, https://twitter.com/HitachiFdn, https://twitter.com/yoshiprogram, http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHitachiFoundation

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