October 18, 2018 – Charleston, SC – The YEScarolina 9th Annual Gala was held the evening of Friday, October 12th at the Gaillard Center, the organization’s biggest fundraiser to benefit YEScarolina’s mission to empower South Carolina’s youth through entrepreneurship. This year’s Fête for the Future of Entrepreneurship recognized teachers and students from across the state, featured a Student Business Showcase, a live and silent auction, entertainment provided by Plane Jane, and a formal dinner.
Among the biggest announcements of the evening was the introduction of YEScarolina’s incoming Executive Director, Tracy Bradshaw. A 1995 graduate of an exemplary youth program Upward Bound inspired Tracy Bradshaw to pursue a career in the field of youth work. Tracy has devoted the last two decades towards alleviating the effects of poverty on youth in rural western NY. She innovatively designed nationally recognized programs that met community needs while incorporating the voice of the youth. As an advocate and experienced leader, her focus is on strengths-based servant leadership.
Bradshaw has a broad experience in working in rural communities and will be instrumental in expanding YEScarolina’s initiatives into more schools in all corners of South Carolina. Under her leadership, YEScarolina aims to make an even bigger impact on young people through entrepreneurship. Programs like YEScarolina’s annual Business Plan Competition will continue to connect students with new opportunities, mentors, and seed money to help fund their businesses. Many of these students from this past year’s initiatives were in attendance at the Gala.
Business Plan Competition winner Samantha Kutcher was honored as the 2018 Ron Motley Award Recipient for her work and dedication to her own nonprofit organization, Prepare4Work. Prepare4Work empowers special needs adults in our community by teaching them the skills they need to stay competitive in the workforce. Siada Tisdale, Business Plan Competition finalist, was recognized as 2018’s Outstanding SC Entrepreneur Student of the Year, joining her teacher at Kingstree Senior High School onstage. Angelia Jackson was honored as Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year, an award sponsored by Atlantic Coast Advisory Group.
This was YEScarolina’s primary fundraiser of the year and its most successful since the organization’s establishment in 2004. Funds raised at the gala benefit YEScarolina, enabling this local 501c3 nonprofit organization to provide entrepreneurship training to South Carolina teachers and empower students throughout the state with a meaningful and experiential entrepreneurship education that is relevant to the real world.
EVENT & PRESENTING SPONSORS
Blackbaud, Heritage Trust Federal Credit Union, Paul Hulsey, TD Bank, Vertical Bridge Charitable Network, Steve Swanson, Total Beverage Solution, PDA, Coastal Creations, Snyder Event Rental, Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant, Rafa Distributing, The Law Office of Erika V. Harrison, Charleston GPS, Advantage Forbes Books, The Kitchin Family Charitable Fund, Atlantic Coast Advisory Group, Brian Kurtz, Motley Rice, & Butcher & Bee Charleston.
ABOUT YESCAROLINA
Youth Entrepreneurship South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the leading organization in South Carolina dedicated to teaching youth the principles of entrepreneurship and free enterprise. Recognizing that South Carolina’s future is dependent upon a vibrant entrepreneurial economy, YEScarolina is preparing today’s youth to be tomorrow’s business owners and business leaders. YEScarolina has helped thousands of young people from communities statewide build business skills and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit. To date, YEScarolina has trained and certified over 1,000 South Carolina teachers on the subject of entrepreneurship. These educators, in turn, have touched and inspired tens of thousands of young South Carolinians with a thirst for entrepreneurship. YEScarolina offers entrepreneurship training to public school teachers statewide without charge. YEScarolina is based in Charleston, SC. yescarolina.com
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