Boys & Girls club kids take steps to become youth entrepreneurs

PHOENIX (July 2, 2008) – On Tuesday, a dozen kids of the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix took the first steps to becoming entrepreneurs when they placed their very own gumball machine at four local Fry’s Stores. The kids, enrolled in the YOUTHpreneur program will monitor their machines over several weeks and see how much money they have made. The program aims to teach underprivileged youth entrepreneurial skills and is founded by Rich Dad, Poor Dad co-author Sharon Lechter, whose books have sold over 28 million copies world wide. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the gum ball machines will go towards Boys & Girls Club programs Phillip Lechter, son of Sharon and Program Director for YOUTHpreneur guided the 12 kids to the four different stores as they approached store managers and made their pitch. Decked out in their YOUTHpreneur t-shirts and readily handing over their very own business cards, each team of four had to ask the manager if they could place their machine and thank them.”We were so amazing and proud to see how these teens stepped out of their comfort zone and took the first step to owning a business,” said Phillip Lechter, Director of the YOUTHpreneur program. “It was incredible to see the lights turn on and their confidence soar.” The YOUTHpreneur program will run for six weeks in cooperation with the Boys & ; Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix. In two weeks the kids will check back with their machines and in another month they will collect them and count their final profits, providing two great media opportunities. About YOUTHpreneur YOUTHpreneur is the culmination of one local Valley mother’s desire to encourage children how to become entrepreneurs and make the most of their financial futures. Sharon Lechter, a passionate financial educator and entrepreneurial advocate, is well-known throughout the world as the co-author of the #1 NY Times best-sellers Rich Dad, Poor Dad and the Rich Dad series of books. In cooperation with her son Phillip, husband Michael and a team of educators and experts, Sharon established the model of YOUTHpreneur to teach children entrepreneurial skills.