CENTRAL PALM BEACH CHAMBER AND LOCAL UNIVERSITIES PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURISM IN YOUTH
CENTRAL PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL, September 15, 2015 –The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the inaugural 2015-2016 Central Palm Beach Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). Classes will be held at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Wellington Campus on Wednesdays from 4:30-7:30 p.m., and all Signature Events will be hosted by Keiser University at their West Palm Beach Flagship Campus.
“We specifically chose these two universities because of their reputation for academic excellence and emphasis on community involvement,” said Martina Sanchez, Program Director of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.
YEA! is an afterschool program in which students brainstorm and form enterprises, make pitches to real investors, obtain funding, register companies with governmental agencies, and by the end, actually launch their own businesses or social movements! Business mentors and local entrepreneurs across a variety of industries will support the students throughout the program. All of the learning is real and experiential. Applications are currently being accepted and the deadline to apply is October 1st. To apply, please visit www.CPBchamberYEA.org.
“We are so proud to be able to host The Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Palm Beach Atlantic University,” said President William M. B. Fleming, Jr. “This program will be such a positive influence on students in our local community, and will provide an innovative, challenging, and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.”
Both large and small businesses can volunteer their time as business mentors, field trip hosts, guest lecturers, graphic designers, web developers, attorneys, etc. Community support strengthens the program, and the academy strengthens the community.
“This experience is something students will be able to apply to any field they choose to enter, and will provide them with the necessary skills to become future leaders of their industries,” said Mary Lou Bedford, CEO of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.
Though this is the Chamber’s first year running this program, YEA! has a robust 10 year history of success across the nation. Some impressive statistics include:
- 100% of Academy graduates go on to graduate from high school on time
- 99% of Academy graduates enroll in college
- YEA! students have been awarded millions of dollars in scholarships through program participation
“Keiser University’s Flagship Campus in West Palm Beach is pleased and excited to join with the Central Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce to host a number of YEA! events on our campus for the 2015-2016 academic year. Keiser has always been an entrepreneurial University, and we are excited to share our campus with students who share this entrepreneurial spirit,” said President Tom Duncan.
About The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
The Central Palm Beach Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is run through the Central Palm Beach Community Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2015, and 24 seats are available to students ages 11 to 18 in Palm Beach County. For more information on how to become involved or to apply, please visit www.CPBchamberYEA.org
About the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce
The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to business advocacy, economic development, and education. From Cane-to-Coral the communities located within the Chamber’s footprint are: Acreage, Atlantis, Belle Glade, Greenacres, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Manalapan, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, Wellington and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.cpbchamber.com.