YOUTHpreneur launches in cooperation with Phoenix Boys & Girls Club

On Tuesday, June 24, 10 children from the Phoenix Metropolitan Boys & Girls club began the journey to becoming entrepreneurs. YOUTHpreneur classes began for the kids and will continue for another five weeks. Eventually, 90 other kids will be phased in to the program over the course of the next month. The 100 children chosen for the program, ages 12 to 15, will work and learn in groups of three spread throughout several different clubs across Phoenix. Each group will receive a gumball machine and supply of gumballs and each child will receive a business kit, business cards and t-shirt. The goal for each group is to place their gumball machine in a local business, monitor its success, maintain it and compete with each other to generate the most revenue. Proceeds from the machines will go directly to fund other Boys & Girls Club programs. The YOUTHpreneur course will teach the kids valuable business etiquette skills including how to “ask” a business owner to allow their gumball machine to be placed in their business as well as the appropriate way to thank the business owner for his or her support. YOUTHpreneur is the culmination of Sharon Lechter’s desire to encourage children how to become entrepreneurs and make the most of their financial futures. “The education system today is working hard to teach our children how to become better employees,” said Sharon Lechter, founder of YOUTHpreneur. “Why isn’t it working hard to teach them how to become better entrepreneurs? That’s why we’ve launched YOUTHpreneur.”