Pacers, foundations partner to help aspiring young entrepreneurs
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The G-Unity Foundation, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the STARTedUP Foundation are seeking to equip Indianapolis kids with business know-how through new workshops and programming.
Each organization looks to bring something to the table: G-Unity, founded by rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, focuses on serving underserved youth; Pacers Sports & Entertainment is positioned in the industry and has philanthropic motivations; and the STARTedUP Foundation helps children build entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills.
“Our mission has always been to foster entrepreneurial thinking in students,” Don Wettrick, CEO of The STARTedUP Foundation, said in a news release. “By partnering with Pacers Sports & Entertainment and G-Unity, we expand our reach and provide students with unparalleled opportunities.”
The three institutions are guiding toward this vision with the Innovation Workshops Nov. 14 and Jan. 11 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The workshops will provide students with opportunities to think creatively and solve problems. They will then present and receive feedback from mentors and community leaders. Afterward, G-Unity will choose two teams to receive $2,000 in seed funding. Also, one team will receive the “Team 50” nomination and move on to the central Indiana Innovate WithIN regional competition in April.
“I am proud to have my G-Unity Foundation join forces with the Indiana Pacers and the STARTedUP Foundation to support this innovative program aimed at helping young people gain critical experience through team building and formal skills training,” Jackson said. “I look forward to seeing what the future has to offer for our program participants.”
The partners hope the effort will result in more students participating in the Innovate WithIN competition, which the STARTedUP foundation launched in 2018.