Social Entrepreneur blog for the world changers
Peter Nguyen
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Posts by Peter Nguyen
Cleantech Accelerator Greenstart Seeks Startups for Second Program
Oct 3rd
San Francisco, CA – October 3, 2011 – Greenstart, the first startup accelerator exclusively designed for cleantech companies, seeks applications for the company’s second three-month accelerator session, which begins on January 23. Submissions will be accepted until November 18 at www.greenstart.com/apply. Greenstart discovers dynamic new business concepts from cleantech entrepreneurs and provides them with the essentials to grow successful next generation clean energy companies. Greenstart is particularly targeting “fast cleantech” startups – those that expand the use of clean energy or reduce the use of dirty energy while being capital efficient and quick to market. Companies will be expected to develop a prototype of their product or service within 45 days, share a prototype with customers for validation and feedback within the program’s timeframe, and have a strong likelihood of producing revenues within six months. Entrepreneurs accepted into the program will receive $25,000 – $100,000 in seed funding, comprehensive mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, cleantech leaders and executives, and introductions to leading cleantech angel and venture capital investors. During the program, participants will be expected to spend the majority of their time in San Francisco, where they will have access to the company’s open and collaborative workspace, networking events, and additional company resources. The program will conclude with an investor presentation day on April 11, 2012. “We are thrilled with the quality of companies that have joined our first program,” said Greenstart Managing Partner Mitch Lowe, “We cannot wait to see what kind of bright ideas and entrepreneurial spirits come through the second round of applications.” Greenstart is currently working with its first four debut companies: SmarterShade, Sylvatex, Tenrehte Technologies, and Wa.tt. For its next iteration, Greenstart intends to expand its program to 6-8 companies. About Greenstart: Greenstart is a cleantech accelerator program providing a fast runway to success for entrepreneurs addressing the energy challenge. Greenstart provides seed funding, mentoring, and connections with fellow entrepreneurs and investors in order to give startups an advantage in launching the cleantech ideas of tomorrow. The company is based in San Francisco. Additional information can be found at www.greenstart.com.
A Wedding of Hope: NYC Homeless Invited as Guests of Honor
Aug 7th
Formerly Homeless Bride Invites NYC Homeless to Dress Up, Celebrate, and Regain Sense of Self
Nearly every bride and groom consider their wedding to be “their day” and enjoy being the center of attention for friends and family.
Not so for soon to be newlyweds Diamond Jones, 32, and her fiancé, Michael Thomas, 28. The couple look forward to sharing their big day, on Saturday, September 10, 2011, with some very special Guests of Honor that they are inviting: homeless men and women from across New York City.
This heartfelt invitation is neither a grand gesture nor a random act of kindness. After losing both of her parents by age 25, Diamond found herself homeless in Manhattan — literally sleeping on the street, and even surviving for weeks at a time on just a single bag of potato chips a day. The closest thing she had to a shower was the bathroom sink in various coffee shops, where foaming hand soap and paper towels were a luxury.
Like Diamond, many of the homeless in the city do not have family and may have never had the opportunity to attend a wedding or other formal event. Many of them have also not had a haircut or shower in months, and may have never had a manicure, or owned a tailored suit or dress. The couple’s hope is to provide these small but significant “luxuries” to their homeless guests through donations and gifts-in-kind from across the country for the big day.
“This is our vision for our Dream Wedding,” says Diamond, “We want to restore dignity and hope back in to each individual life. We want our guests to feel like the Guests of Honor that they truly are.”
Diamond, who graduated from Virginia Tech before she became homeless, now works in full-time Christian Ministry. Additionally, she spends most of her free time as an active volunteer with several organizations that provide services to the homeless, including The Bowery Mission, Don’t Walk By, Coalition for the Homeless, and New York Cares. Michael is an employee of the City of New York, and has also spent countless hours volunteering with The Bowery Mission, New York City Relief, The Father’s Heart, and Coalition for the Homeless. The homeless guests will include a number of men and women the couple have come to know over their many years of volunteering.
The couple is now actively soliciting donations of formal clothing, grooming services, and other amenities for these special guests. Thus far the flowers for the ceremony and reception have been donated by the well known celebrity florist, Belle Fleur, on 5th Avenue.
Please let me know if you would like more information or would like to set up an interview with Diamond or Michael. In the meantime, we invite you to visit www.weddingofhope.com to learn more about the couple, the event, and ways to get involved.
So for this event to be a success, the couple is still in need of donations of all types – clothing, food, toiletries, and skilled professionals to do makeup, haircuts, and manicures. Monetary donations can also help in providing the extra items that the couple may need in the planning process. And if you personally don’t know how you might be able to help, we welcome your prayers as they are equally as important for this wedding to bring the hope and salvation to the many Guests that may not know their Heavenly Father and may have never felt His love for them.
As a last thought, the Lord gave me a revelation about His heart and how much this wedding means to Him. He showed me that just as Jesus preformed his first miracle of providing wine at a wedding…wine that was not necessary, but it was an act to reveal His glory…so too is this couple providing an opportunity that many may see as unnecessary–which I have experienced from a few media outlets who question what “real” impact this wedding will have in changing the Guest’s lives and getting them out of homelessness–but to those that are touched and uplifted, they will see this event as a miracle in their lives and will understand this act as God’s glory and love for them. Jesus provided the BESTwine when it probably would have not made a big difference in the outcome of the wedding had they gotten more wine or not…but the Bible says in John 2:11 “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” So His provision isn’t just limited to the basic needs in life, in some cases it will be in ways that are seemingly “unnecessary” simply for Him to REVEAL Himself so others will put their faith in Him. This wedding is a huge opportunity to REVEAL God to the Guests who might (or might not) believe in Him, and have never SEEN HIS GLORY. It is my prayer that this wedding be a reason that many decide to put their faith in Him and in doing so, are able to find the hope and the strength to believe they deserve better than to live on the streets, and they can trust that God will help them out of it.
The “real” impact of this wedding is TRUE CHANGE from the inside out…the kind of change that only comes from knowing and receiving God’s love.
Fresh Air Is Changing Lives – One Week Left
Aug 4th
The Summer of 2011 is almost over and there is only one week left
to help 200 Fresh Air children find a loving host family!
We are looking for families in the following areas to host before this summer ends:
If you or someone you know is able to host, please sign up now. In 2010, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.
More than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.
FreshAir is changing lives, visit them here: http://freshairfundhost.org
Cleantech Accelerator Greenstart Seeks Startups for Inaugural Program
Jun 10th
San Francisco, CA – June 6, 2011 – Greenstart, the first startup accelerator exclusively designed for cleantech companies, seeks applications for the company’s inaugural three-month accelerator session, which begins on September 12. Submissions will be accepted until July 3 at www.greenstart.com/apply.
Greenstart aims to discover dynamic new business concepts from cleantech entrepreneurs the world over and provide them with the essentials to grow successful next generation clean energy companies. Greenstart is particularly targeting “fast cleantech” startups – those that expand the use of clean energy or reduce the use of dirty energy while being capital efficient and quick to market. Companies will be expected to develop a prototype of their product or service within 45 days, share a prototype with customers for validation and feedback within the program’s timeframe, and have a strong likelihood of producing revenues within six months. Such entrepreneurs may be pursuing innovations in clean energy sources, clean energy distribution, smart grid, energy efficiency software, clean web, and more.
Entrepreneurs accepted into the program will receive $25,000 in seed funding, comprehensive mentoring from a pool of serial entrepreneurs, cleantech leaders and executives of major Silicon Valley technology companies, and introductions to leading cleantech angel and venture capital investors. During the program, participants will be expected to spend the majority of their time in San Francisco, where they will have access to the company’s open and collaborative workspace, networking events, and additional company resources. The program will conclude with an investor presentation day on December 14.
“It’s inspiring to see a rising wave of entrepreneurs who want to make money while making a difference, and we firmly believe that they have the power to bring about impactful and innovative solutions to the energy problem,” said Greenstart Managing Partner Mitch Lowe. “But we know that starting a company is hard work, so we want to create an environment where these companies can thrive and get the best advantage possible.”
Greenstart will announce the companies accepted into the inaugural program on August 3.
About Greenstart:
Greenstart is a cleantech accelerator program providing a fast runway to success for entrepreneurs addressing the energy challenge. Greenstart provides seed funding, mentoring, and connections with fellow entrepreneurs and investors in order to give startups an advantage in launching the cleantech ideas of tomorrow. The company is based in San Francisco. Additional information can be found at www.greenstart.com.
The Fresh Air Fund is in need of loving host families.
May 3rd
If you or someone you know is able to host, please sign up now. In 2010, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.
More than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.
“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”
Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will
never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster
they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!
Visit http://www.freshair.org/host-a-child/fresh-air-fund-children.aspx to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!
The Fresh Air Fund NEEDS host families for the Summer of 2010
Jul 2nd
The Fresh Air Fund NEEDS host families for the Summer of 2010
In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.
The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.
More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.
Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.
Fresh Air Fund Host Families
“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”
Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!
To learn more about becoming a host call (800) 367-0003!
Fresh Air Fund Children
Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.
The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.
Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.
What do Fresh Air children enjoy?
Playing in the backyard
Laughing in the sunshine
Catching fireflies
Riding bicycles
Learning to swim
Running barefoot through the grass
Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
Building sandcastles
Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city
You can give a child the experience of a
lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!
Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.
Whether it’s a two-week trip to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities.
We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.
Donate online now
Social Entrepreneurs changes the world
Apr 26th
A social entrepreneur quest to change the world. This is our story.
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