Funds to provide operating support for organization that provides entrepreneurship training to low- income students
Lawrenceville, NJ – October 7, 2015 –Sam’s Club recently awarded a check for $20,000 to Minding Our Business, Inc. (MOB), a nonprofit organization that has been recognized as one of the premier youth entrepreneurship programs in the nation, to support its operations and its expansion to serve more at-risk youth throughout New Jersey.
MOB began in 1997 as a community outreach program of Rider University’s College of Business Administration and received its own 501(c) 3 designation in November 2012. Since its launch, MOB has taught entrepreneurship education to more than 3,000 low-income students through a variety of programming for young adults. MOB currently offers both an after school Service-Learning Program and a Summer Program that targets middle school students and teaches them how to run their own business. By the end of each program, students launch their business venture and sell their products and services.
“The grant award from Sam’s Club will be used by MOB toward operating costs that are essential to the organization’s ability to provide our high-quality entrepreneurship programming to more students than ever before,” explained Kevin Wortham, Executive Director of Minding Our Business. “This year showed record growth for MOB as we expanded our scope to serve at-risk youth in Perth Amboy and Asbury Park with much success.”
Sam’s Club has been a staunch supporter of MOB at both the local and national level for several years as well as a hero to the organization. As Dr. Sigfredo Hernandez, MOB’s Co-Founder and Treasurer, explained, “Last spring, when the Trenton School District could not provide sufficient funding for our Service Learning Program due to budget constraints, Sam’s Club came to our rescue! Now with this wonderful gift we will be able to cover operating costs that we are facing as a new independent charity organization. Sam’s Club is our great neighbor and partner!”
“Our founder Sam Walton, the ultimate entrepreneur, set our path at Sam’s Club more than 30 years ago – we’re in business for small business,” said Lance de la Rosa, Senior Vice President of Operations at Sam’s Club. “As Sam’s Club has grown to be the club of the Mercer County community, we are proud to empower young entrepreneurs by supporting Minding Our Business.”
Pictured, left to right: Kevin Wortham, Executive Director of Minding Our Business (MOB), Lance de la Rosa, Senior Vice President of Operations at Sam’s Club, and Dr. Sigfredo Hernandez, MOB’s Co- Founder and Treasurer during a recent check presentation ceremony
About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings and services to millions of members in 647 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. To learn more about Sam’s Club, visit www.samsclub.com/newsroom.
About Minding Our Business
The mission of Minding Our Business is to improve academic, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills, and to boost self-confidence among at- risk middle school students using a unique hands-on approach involving entrepreneurship education and mentoring. The vision is that MOB will one day be the leading model for entrepreneurship education for urban youth nationally. For further information about Minding Our Business, please visit www.minding-our-business.com.