Youth entrepreneur org gets $50k grant award
An organization that helps nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in Baltimore’s youth has been awarded $50,000 to build up their operations and continue their mission.
Park Heights Renaissance (PHR) has awarded a $50,000 George E. Mitchell Fellowship Grant to Excellence & Ambition, Inc., the organization offering resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to young people aged 14 – 21 years old to help them succeed in their business endeavors. Excellence & Ambition, Inc. also offers personal development workshops and networking events to young professionals, helping to boost their early career development.
“We are excited to partner with Excellence & Ambition INC through the George E. Mitchell Fellowship Grant,” said Yolanda Jiggetts, CEO of Park Heights Renaissance, in a statement. “Not only does this organization’s work embody Mr. Mitchell’s passion for empowering and preparing our youth, our partnership with Excellence & Ambition INC will help PHR meet several of our measurable goals in areas such as business development, workforce and career development.”
Excellence & Ambition, Inc. has programs like “Young Millionaires in Training” (YMiT) and “Youth Build Community” (YBC), among others.
YMiT has a curriculum focused on “fostering a winning mindset and breaking the chains of intergenerational poverty. It teaches financial literacy, self-awareness, networking skills, confidence, and more.
YBC is youth-led and supports young creatives. They provide resources, tools, and instruction in whatever moves them. Their focuses include building awareness about health and wellness in their community, creating a pipeline for employment with job fairs, college workshops, supporting each others’ dreams, and more.
PHR is a 501(c)3 organization facilitating business development and economic growth in the Park Heights Master Plan area. They take a holistic community development approach to enhance and maintain a thriving and sustainable community.
The George E. Mitchell Fellowship Grant was named for a beloved community activist, social entrepreneur, and staunch advocate for youth empowerment. Its goal is to help organizations build operational capacity and scale up their organizations.
“This year’s grant is much larger than it has been in previous years. We have learned that in order to make a real impact on the growth of an organization, there needs to be significant investment of both capital investment and support services. We are confident that grantees will benefit from this multi-faceted approach,” Jiggetts said.
Excellence & Ambition, Inc. will receive its grant award and be recognized prior to the running of The George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII) on May 17, 2024, at Pimlico Race Course. People from the Excellence & Ambition team will join members of the Mitchell family, leaders from Park Heights, and Baltimore City and State officials to present the trophy to the winning connections of the 100th running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
