Member News

Boca Raton (April 17, 2012) – SCORE South Palm Beach (www.scoresouthflorida.net) has been named the National SCORE Chapter of the Year for doubling the number of businesses it has assisted and for its innovative programs with universities, teen entrepreneurs and veterans.

Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel will present the award to the all-volunteer nonprofit, which is part of a network of 364 SCORE chapters nationwide, at a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 at the Gleneagles Country Club, 7667 Victory Lane • Delray Beach, Florida 33446.

 “Our country survives on the entrepreneurial spirit. Our small businesses are our leading employers. Our members feel it’s their responsibility to foster the growth of today’s and tomorrow’s business leaders,” said Hal Finkelstein, chair of SCORE South Palm Beach since 2007.

In the past five years, South Palm Beach SCORE doubled the number of businesses they have helped via face-to-face mentorship, workshops and special events. In 2011, the chapter assisted more than 6000 local businesses.

The South Palm Beach SCORE chapter has also launched groundbreaking local programs that encourage the development of entrepreneurship skills among students of all ages and post 9/11 veterans returning from military service in Afghanistan and/or Iraq. Here’s a look at the innovative programs created by the chapter:

• University Business Outreach: SCORE volunteers mentor business students and alumni, at Palm Beach State College, and Florida Atlantic University as well as teach business courses at Lynn University.
• Young Entrepreneur Academy: SCORE provides mentorship and business training to 11 to 18 year olds that are part of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce youth entrepreneurship program that helps participants start a business.
• Veteran Grant Program: SCORE created the Pathway to Business Success, a program and foundation that gives returning Iraq and Afghanistan vets business courses and one-on-one business assistance to start a business or enhance one they already have. The program includes grant funding for their business needs.  A SCORE member donated more than $250,000 to the foundation and has a team helping to raise additional funds.

 “It’s a great accomplishment for our volunteers we try and stay on the cutting edge,” Finkelstein said of the chapter’s 38 volunteer mentors. “It’s a lot of hours that our mentors put in. Our community is really lucky that they have such a fantastic group of dedicated mentors.”

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About SCORE South Palm Beach
SCORE South Palm Beach is a resource partner to the U.S. Small Business Administration dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses grow. Visit http://www.scoresouthflorida.net and follow the chapter on Twitter at @SCORESoPalmBch.

About SCORE National
Since 1964, SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, has helped more than 9 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year SCORE helps launch 58,000 new businesses and create 71,000 jobs. SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses annually.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans and www.twitter.com/SCOREMentors.