This morning, Future Founders celebrated our victory as one of 10 organizations (out of nearly 170 that applied) to win the Google.org Impact Challenge Illinois.
Through this process, we received a $75,000 grant to expand our Residency program outside of Illinois, empowering more diverse 18 to 30 year-olds to start their own businesses.
We were recognized in front of a packed crowd that included Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Karen Sauder (Head of Google’s Chicago Office), Tina Tchen (Partner at Buckley Sandler), Andrea Sáenz (COO of The Chicago Community Trust), and Andrea Zopp (President & CEO of World Business Chicago).
While we didn’t win the People’s Choice Vote (a group from Mattoon, IL did), we are honored and humbled by the outpouring of support we received from each and every one of you. We are so grateful for everyone’s votes, kind words, shares, likes and encouragement.
Thank you for believing in our work. Thank you for believing in the potential of young entrepreneurs. Thank you for showing the rest of the state the passion, dedication, and strength the Future Founders community has.
And in the spirit of true entrepreneurs, we’re putting our heads back down, rolling up our sleeves, and going back to doing what we love the most –empowering young people to create their own opportunity.
Thank you everyone! Scott Issen President & CEO
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