Big Things Brewing for Boca Chamber’s Education Foundation

Paul Miller |

At Indian River Financial Group, we are proud supporters of the community’s efforts to verse our youth in financial literacy and engage them in real world business practices. The Greater Boca Chamber of Commerce never falls short of doing just that and has a lot to be proud of as well as to look forward to.

The Boca Chamber’s Education Foundation, Golden Bell, is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, created by the Chamber’s Board of Directors to support the Boca Raton Public School System and conduct academic programs that boost business skills. Each year, all Boca Raton Public Schools are encouraged to apply for a Golden Bell Grant, which donates money to creative and creditable programs such as those that emphasize cultural diversity, conflict resolution, global awareness, career guidance, and other similar instruction.

Along with celebrating over 23 years of giving, Golden Bell is also proud to announce that more than $1.2 million has been granted to numerous elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Boca Raton since its humble beginning in 1991.

As summer approaches and the application process comes to a close, the Foundation’s Board of Directors will be assembling to review applications and choose and notify awardees. Recipients can then plan to accept their grants at the Chamber’s Membership Breakfast in September, where all sponsors will also be recognized.

A major program of the Golden Bell Education Foundation is called Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), which gives students the opportunity to work alongside local leaders of industry, members of the community, and educators to form ideas, goals, and business plans, pitch potential investors, access funding, develop their brand identity, and more. The program is offered to applicants in grades 6-12 who have displayed ingenuity, scholarly achievement, passion, dedication, and engagement with their community and family.

At the end of this month, the program will come to a close for the 2014-2015 academic year as members of the program put their yearlong efforts into action at the Southeast Regional Competition at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. The success of the students and the fully functional businesses they own and operate by the end of the program would be impossible without the amazing mentors and instructors behind the program, who will be recognized at an appreciation dinner this month as well.

Don’t miss out on all of the opportunities that the Boca Chamber’s Golden Bell Education Foundation has to offer! The online application process for YEA! For the 2015-2016 YEA! academic year is now open!