Hundreds of people are expected to attend this year’s Children’s Business Fair showcasing entrepreneurial visions of children ages 5-13 on October 9th, 2010 at the historic Pease Mansion, 1606 Niles Rd, Austin, 78703 sponsored by the Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence and the Acton School of Business. Proceeds from the $2.00 admission fee and booth fees will benefit Explore Austin, a program that provides leadership building and adventure activities to inner-city boys and was founded by Jamie Matthews, a graduate of Acton School of Business.
Participating children must apply before Friday, October 1, at 5p.m. for a booth to promote their business. A panel of entrepreneurs will then review the applications and select the participants for the day of the fair to showcase their service or product, sell samples and solicit customers by most potential. Each child who is selected will receive four free tickets to the event for their family and/or friends.
“The goal of the Children’s Business Fair is to attract, equip and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs-ages 5 to 13-and let them show the amazing businesses they can create,” said Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Austin-based Acton School of Business.
Cash prizes of $50 will be awarded to the “Best presentation,” “Most Original”, and “Highest Business Potential” which will be determined by age groups (5-7, 8-10 and 11-13).
Jeff Sandefer knows how important it is to inspire entrepreneurs early. He started his first business at age sixteen and was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in the United States. “We want students who have the intelligence and drive to change the world, and the integrity to change it for the better,” explains Sandefer that acknowledges the recognition and monetary accomplishments aren’t how he determines his success, “if we can awaken in each student a sense of their God-given gifts, and help them to use these gifts to make a difference, the Acton MBA Entrepreneurship will change the world, one student at a time.”
Last year’s event featured 42 booths by 60 schoolchildren from the Austin area. For more information on this event and/or to read some young inspiring successful stories visit www.childrensbusinessfair.org .
By Monica Pena
Austin Times Staff
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