Ashoka and Staples Launch Annual Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition

Global Competition Will Recognize Entrepreneurial Youth Addressing Social Issues in their Communities

ARLINGTON, VA — March 25, 2009— Ashoka, the world’s community of leading social entrepreneurs, and Staples Foundation for Learning (SFFL), a private foundation created by Staples, Inc., announced today the launch of the third annual Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition. The global competition is part of Ashoka’s Youth Venture, an initiative that SFFL has helped expand globally to seven countries in North America, South America and Europe. Youth Venture identifies and fosters young entrepreneurs all over the world who are identifying problems and creating Ventures to address social issues in their communities.

The competition asks Youth Venture teams, which are made up of students between the ages of 12-24, to explain what course of action they have taken to address a social issue affecting their community.

Nominations will be accepted through April 17, 2009. In May, an elite panel of judges will select five finalist Venture teams for their outstanding impact, innovation and potential. The Summit will provide youth with innovative workshops on skill-building, leadership and collaborative opportunities.

Prizes
- ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP for up to two members of each of the Five Winning Teams to travel to Boston, MA, USA, to attend the Staples Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Awards ceremony and much more!
- The Youth Social Entreprenur Excellence Award (1 Winner): US$5,000 Value
- The Youth Social Entrepreneur Achievement Award (4 Winners Selected): US$500
- FREE Attendance: Youth Venture National Summit in Boston, MA: (ALL 5 Winners)
- FREE Project Management Consultation: (ALL 5 Winners)

For additional information on the Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition, please visit the competition web site at: www.GenV.net/StaplesYV


About Youth Venture
Ashoka’s Youth Venture® is a global movement of young changemakers. Youth Venture inspires and invests in teams of young people to start their own sustainable social Ventures and connects them into a powerful global network. Collectively, these young changemakers are redefining the youth years as a time of initiative and positive change. For more information, please visit www.genv.net.

About Ashoka
Ashoka is the world’s community of leading social entrepreneurs—individuals with innovative and practical ideas for addressing social needs. Working with these social entrepreneurs, Ashoka builds communities of innovators who work collectively to transform society and design new ways for the social sector to become more productive, entrepreneurial and globally integrated. For more information, please visit www.ashoka.org.