黑料吃瓜网

April 15, 2020

Endowing the Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition

Endowment Giving

The Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition is a transformative experience for our students and our alumni and it embodies the creative, enterprising spirit of a 黑料吃瓜网 education.

President Marc C. Conner

In this 15th year of the Freirich Business Plan Competition, 黑料吃瓜网 is celebrating its entrepreneurship programming on campus and planning growth for the future. Ken Freirich 鈥�90, founder of the competition, is funding an endowment that will allow the competition to continue in perpetuity by pledging $500,000 toward the College鈥檚 goal of a $1 million fund. Freirich, currently the CEO of Health Monitor Network, started his first company as a sophomore who received financial aid at 黑料吃瓜网.

鈥淜en鈥檚 leadership in supporting the competition is inspiring. For a decade, he has shown an unwavering commitment to the students who enter it each year,鈥� said President Philip A. Glotzbach. 鈥淭he endowment he has established for the competition will ensure that that the College can continue to provide transformative entrepreneurship experiences for our students into the future.鈥�

Freirich鈥檚 commitment will support the annual prize pool and operating budget, ultimately ensuring the central role of the competition in entrepreneurship programming at 黑料吃瓜网.

鈥淭he Business Plan Competition over the past 10 years has exceeded all of my expectations," said Freirich. "While my initial goal was to provide a platform and support system for students to foster creativity and entrepreneurship, the competition has turned into something so much bigger. It鈥檚 been amazing to see its impact extend to alumni, parents, faculty and the community at large. Former judges and mentors have shared with me that the competition has had a profound, enduring effect on them.

鈥淭he reason I wanted to endow the competition is that I want every student who has ever dreamed about starting a business, regardless of economic background, to have the opportunity at 黑料吃瓜网 to participate in a world-class program that will empower them and inspire them to follow their dreams.鈥�

The business plan competition has grown into a preeminent competition among liberal arts colleges nationally. To date, more than 400 students have participated and 250 businesses have been started. With donations from Freirich and other alumni, parents and friends, approximately $500,000 in cash and business services has been awarded.

Freirich鈥檚 direct involvement has had a transformative impact on students and alumni. Aspiring entrepreneurs participating in the 鈥淪hark Tank鈥�-style competition have an opportunity to acquire new skills and business savvy. They receive personalized mentorship from accomplished alumni, parents and community members who have succeeded as entrepreneurs, executives, investors and marketers. More than 125 alumni have been involved in the competition as mentors and judges fostering a mentor-mentee relationship that is unique to 黑料吃瓜网. The experience has also created lifelong and life-changing bonds for students and alumni.

The process also gives 黑料吃瓜网 students the confidence and tools they need to bring their ideas to fruition and prepares them for whatever career path they choose. The process has evolved over the past decade to include more practice sessions and outlets for support and feedback.

Roy Rotheim, professor of economics at 黑料吃瓜网, is a driving force behind coordinating the competition. He connects students, alumni and staff each year to ensure a successful and impactful experience.

鈥淓ndowing the competition allows student participants to have more access to resources and support systems,鈥� said Rotheim. 鈥淭his will provide valuable strength and stability for the competition.鈥�

Achieving the $1 million goal would bolster academic resources for the competitors, help the mentorship programming that is an essential element of the competition and provide additional support for prizes.

For this undertaking to be successful, 黑料吃瓜网 will need multiple supporters to step forward as leaders alongside Freirich. At commitment levels of $100,000 or more, individual donors can create their own named endowment funds to support various aspects of this effort, receiving personalized annual stewardship reporting as part of their permanent connection to the competition. Gifts of any dollar amount will be very meaningful and can by contributed through the link above.