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With the global financial crisis shaking the world, Philadelphia fights back with a growing entrepreneurial spirit. See how we’re doing it!

The State Co-ordinator for this project is Carmen Scott Dawson. For an interview, or more information, contact him via email. We plan to make media materials available on this page, as soon as it’s available.





For Immediate Release
Contact: Kelly Hennigan
AgileCat
215.508.2082
kelly@agilecat.com

PHILADELPHIA TO HOST PENNSYLVANIA’S FIRST EVER GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK EVENT, UNLEASHPHILLY, NOVEMBER 18 AT WORLD CAFÉ LIVE

-- Global initiative, with more than 75 countries participating simultaneously, invites young people to embrace innovation, creativity and ingenuity --


PHILADELPHIA – November 5, 2008 – Entrepreneurial assets from Eastern Pennsylvania will come together on November 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at World Café Live for the region’s first ever Global Entrepreneurship Week Event, UNLEASHPHILLY (www.unleashphilly.org). The event brings together more than 50 entrepreneurial agencies, ten universities and organizations such as Innovation Philadelphia, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center, Team PA, Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners and many more. The all day gathering invites aspiring and established entrepreneurs, educators, students and government officials to share ideas and resources for fostering ingenuity and providing access to learning. UNLEASHPHILLY is free and open to the public with lunch provided.

Last week, Philadelphia City Council adopted a resolution officially declaring November 17-23 Global Entrepreneurship Week in Philadelphia. UNLEASHPHILLY is the main Philadelphia event, with others taking part throughout the week in various parts of the State.

“I cannot imagine a more suitable city to hold an entrepreneurial event like this one,” said Richard Bendis, President and CEO, Bendis Investment Group. “Philadelphia has a long history and robust infrastructure with its mentors, financial resources and business support available to help budding entrepreneurs effectively see their ideas and dreams come to fruition.”

The Philadelphia event was coordinated by Carmen Scott Dawson, State Director for Global Entrepreneurship Week and President of Advanz, LLC.


“The Philadelphia Entrepreneurship Leadership Team has demonstrated an unwavering ‘can win’ spirit and I am humbled by the support of the Greater Philadelphia Area, from State Rep. Tony Payton's office to countless entrepreneurial partners,” said Dawson. “My personal goal for the State is to leverage existing entrepreneurial awareness activities and create new ones and I am confident that events like the one on November 18 will be remembered for the connections it will create. The real test will be 6 months from now when we assess the progress and positive sustainable developments achieved through those connections.”

Attendees from regional high schools, colleges and universities are invited to listen, learn from and speak with both aspiring and established entrepreneurs through a variety of programs, panels and networking opportunities. A number of agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Small Business Administration will not only participate, but will be on hand to provide guidance and advice to small businesses and start-ups.

Keynote speaker for UNLEASHPHILLY is Richard Caruso, Board Chairman and Founder of Integra Life Sciences and the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year for 2006. Caruso and Integra are credited with introducing regenerative medicine, an entirely new field, to medical science. Caruso is also the Founder of Uncommon Individual Foundation which has a mission to encourage each individual to develop his or her entrepreneurial spirit.

Founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in the United States and Make Your Mark in the United Kingdom, Global Entrepreneurship Week is a combination and expansion of two successful initiatives—the debut of Entrepreneurship Week USA in 2007 and the inspiration behind it, Enterprise Week in the UK, which was kicked off in 2004 by now-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. More than 75 countries are carrying the banner of the Week, including Australia, Brazil, China, France, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa and the United States.

Global sponsors for the Philadelphia event are NYSE Euronext, IBM, Ernst & Young, Kauffman Foundation and Make Your Mark. Regional sponsors include the Uncommon Individual Foundation, Integra Life Sciences, Innovation Philadelphia, Villanova University, Susquehanna University, Bendis Investment Group, Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Global Entrepreneurship, AgileCat, World Café Live, University of the Arts, redanthill.com, Team PA Foundation, CheapO Records, Lehigh University,, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute at the Fox School of Business, Drexel University, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Enterprise Center, Wilkes University, Africaribe Micro Enterprise Network, Wharton Small Business Development Center and Montage Consulting.


For more information, please visit www.unleashingideas.org.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA

With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA will encourage youth to think big, to turn their ideas into reality, and to make their mark. From November 17-23, 2008 millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things. Thousands of activities are being planned in more than 70 countries around the world. Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA is: sponsored nationally by the Kauffman Foundation and the Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence; founded globally by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign; sponsored globally by NYSE Euronext, IBM and Ernst & Young; and, supported by JA Worldwide, Endeavor, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, DECA, YPO-WPO, and National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. To view a complete list of participating countries or to learn more, visit www.unleashingideas.org.


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