A SENIOR CLASS FROM TMI TEAMS UP WITH LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS
High school class project teaches future leaders about philanthropy
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — May 5, 2006 — Two months after blowing away the expectations of business leader Sam O’Krent, a senior Economics class from TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas is at it again with a year-end project that involves convincing local business leaders to donate money to San Antonio non-profit organizations. The project will feature three teams of students each representing a different non-profit organization. The challenge is to convince 13 local business leaders to donate money to the non-profit that each team represents. Two months earlier, the same class presented proposed marketing campaigns for O’Krent’s Abbey Flooring Center, which thoroughly impressed and surprised the CEO, Sam O’Krent.
“They were amazing,” says Sam O’Krent. “I was just expecting to be a part of a simple class project, but I could not believe how creative, thorough, and professional the class was.” O’Krent originally agreed to be one of the business leaders in this latest project and concludes, “I would have agreed to do anything that these kids were involved in – they are the future leaders of our community.” Unfortunately, because of a scheduling conflict, O’Krent will not be able to make the presentation.
For the current project, each team of students was responsible for researching and finding a non-profit organization that they wanted to represent. The teams chose Transplants for Children, Child Advocates San Antonio, and Say Si. Bonnie Lundy, Executive Director of Transplants for Children, agreed quickly and was very excited about the opportunity. “I had never heard of a class project like this,” says Lundy. “I think this will be a tremendous project for the students and what an opportunity to make an impact in the community.”
Ryan Kohnen, TMI Economics instructor and creator of the concept, says he was extremely surprised about the support he has received from the community. His original goal was to find five business and community leaders who were willing to sit in on the presentations and pledge $50 to the best presentation. Within 24 hours, he had received commitments from twelve people, including large support from members of the Young Entrepreneur’s Organization. “I called up Erik Darmstetter, a member of the YEO, and asked if he would be interested,” says Kohnen. “A few minutes later he had four other members of the YEO involved and committed to our project.
In addition to Darmstetter, the list of local business leaders participating in the project include Gal Shweiki, President of Shweiki Media, Stephanie Chandler, Attorney of Jackson Walker, Greg Burkett, President of Southwest Signs, Bart Childers, President of TMS Computer Services, Scott McMillian, Partner of Redstone Consulting, Scott Brown, Co-Founder of PTG Sports, Lori Rhodes, Partner of Rhodes Enterprises, and Matthew Duke and Heidi Harrington of Resources Global. The winning presentation will represent a minimum of $600 that will go towards the non-profit represented.
The final presentation by the students to the “philanthropists” will be on Thursday, May 11th at 2:00pm on the TMI campus. All members of the press are welcome and all participants will be available for interview and/or photos.
About TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas
TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas was founded in 1893 as the West Texas Military Academy. Founded as an all-boys, all-military academy, TMI has evolved into an Episcopal college-preparatory school located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country right on the outskirts of San Antonio. There are 315 students in grades 6-12 that compose the student body. TMI students regularly attend top colleges and universities around the nation and grow to be the leaders of the community. Graduates of this prestigious school include General Douglas MacArthur, Hall of Fame baseball player Ross Youngs, banker and philanthropist Tom Frost, and U.S. Congressman Lamar Smith. Visit the TMI website at www.tmi-sa.org.
About Young Entrepreneur’s Organization
YEO is an international organization representing more than 3,000 successful business owners under age 40, who are the founders, co-founders, owners and controlling shareholders of businesses with annual revenues of at least (US) $1 million. The average YEO member is 33 years old with annual gross revenues of (US) $7 million.
YEO is an educational, non-profit organization dedicated to helping young entrepreneurs succeed in growing their businesses. For more information about the YEO, contact Erik Darmstetter at (210) 823-3744 or by visiting www.yeo.org.