Corporate volunteers recognized for furthering education and entrepreneurial spirit of youth throughout year
DALLAS, TX (June 13, 2023) – Mary Kay Inc., a decades-long corporate advocate of women’s education and entrepreneurship, was honored with the Corporate Volunteer of the Year award by Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship South Region. The award was presented at the South Region Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge finals on June 3, in Dallas, Texas, and recognizes the years-long partnership, Mary Kay employees’ continued dedication and service to NFTE students, and corporate financial support of impactful programs such as World Series of Innovation (WSI) and Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenges (RYEC).
“Volunteering with NFTE marries two of Mary Kay’s core values – giving back and entrepreneurship. Through the World Series of Innovation Challenge – Innovation Days and Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, our employees have the privilege of working with brilliant young minds who are actively shaping a brighter tomorrow through their innovative ideas, critical thinking skills, and pioneering their own businesses. Their tenacity and ambition remind me so much of our founder, Mary Kay Ash, and we are honored to partner with NFTE and receive this award.”
Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer for Mary Kay Inc.
Annually, NFTE reaches more than 40,000 youth worldwide, with 3,860 students submitting ideas for the 2022 WSI challenges. More than 485 students participated in the Mary Kay-sponsored challenge and 23 corporate employee volunteers gave generously of their time to mentor students through virtual Innovation Days.
“We could not do what we do without the support of our NFTE community and corporate partners like Mary Kay. Thank you for providing enriching experiences for our students and helping them maximize their future potential. It is because of their generosity of time, energy, and expertise that our students continue to thrive in the NFTE curriculum.”
Trish McKeel, Regional Director, NFTE South.
NFTE is a global educational non-profit focused on bringing the power of entrepreneurship to low-income communities. Since its founding more than 35 years ago, NFTE has trained thousands of teachers and educated well over a million young people worldwide.