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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct 23, 2007 |
Contact: Anna Jung 773-519-6201 |
CHICAGO – illuma recently partnered with the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) to serve as a mentor in the center's Future Founders program. This program gives high-school students in Chicago 's underserved neighborhoods the opportunity to partner with an entrepreneur to brainstorm ideas for their own businesses and develop real business plans that are then entered into in a city-wide, peer competition.
"We created the Future Founders program to connect high-school students with young, successful entrepreneurs who are passionate about making a difference," says Scott Issen, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the CEC. "By doing this, we hope to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to think creatively, believe in their potential and make an economic difference in their own communities."
Since the program's inception, the CEC has sponsored five schools on the South and West side of Chicago, exposing students to the benefits of entrepreneurship and providing them access to resources and mentors. Interactive and hands-on, the program encourages mentors to meet with their paired students nine times from October to May, when the CEC's Annual Citywide Business Plan Competition and Luncheon is held. At the end of the year, students with the most interest and drive are awarded paid internships at a mentor's company—a great opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to experience the ins and outs of running a business as well as stay in contact with the mentors.
"illuma believes strongly in creating leaders and the Future Founders curriculum does just that," says Adam Robinson, CEO of illuma. "The students I work with are bright, articulate and excited about their future. The program really gives these students a forum to explore their business ideas as well as understand the difference they can make in the world around them. I'm honored to be a part of that."
About illuma
illuma is the leader in Enterprise Recruitment Management for emerging growth companies, delivering a full-service solution that transforms recruitment into a source of strategic competitive advantage. illuma's results-oriented approach enables its clients to achieve amazing recruiting results through a unique combination of strategy, action and culture. Find out more at www.illumallc.com.
About the Chicago Entrepreneurship Center
The Chicago Entrepreneurship Center (CEC) is a nonprofit affiliate of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce that seeks to make a perceptible and lasting economic impact on the Chicagoland region by helping entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses build viable, sustainable, and profitable enterprises. Find out more at www.chicagolandec.org.
