Potempa: Students get entrepreneurship spotlight

While celebrating a decade of success, Chareice White, chair of the board for the ECIER Foundation of Northwest Indiana, says she is still educating others about the foundation she has helmed for the 10 years since launching and rebranding.

ECIER is the acronym letters for Educate, Create, Innovate, Entrepreneur and Relationships.

On Thursday, May 30, White, who is also the head of Reice Communications, was feted in the ballroom of The Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster in honor of City of Gary Scholars and Future Leaders Awards Dinner, a “family style” feasting prelude for 100 invited guests prior to the Youth Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition held across the lobby in the Theatre at the Center stage space.

A teary and grateful White, who previously headed the Barden Foundation created by Majestic Star Casino mogul Don Barden of Gary acclaim, said it was through determination and the support of community leaders which led her to create her own foundation after Barden’s passing at the age of 67 in May 2011.

“I wanted to continue the Barden Foundation, but the overall enterprise organization had decided to no longer fund it,” White told guest during dinner remarks.

“When I explained that I wanted to continue the mission, I was given permission to retain the funds currently held by that foundation, but advised to rename and launch it as a new chapter mission.”

Among the VIP guests at the dinner event and entrepreneur pitch competition — the latter designed like TV’s “Shark Tank” — were Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana President Matt Schuffert, and West Side Theatre Guild Executive Director and Gary Councilman Mark Spencer.

Schuffert presented White and her foundation a $50,000 check on behalf of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, along with the promise of future support.

ECIER Foundation has the mission “to enhance, motivate and educate students on structured initiatives and increase the students’ awareness and implementation on community service.” Scholars receive enhanced services in the area of college preparation and are provided the opportunity and tools to become young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. White said the goal is to empower today’s youth to ensure in a thriving community while developing leadership skills to impact self-esteem and build character.

I served on the judging panel for the invention pitch competition that resulted in twin brothers as the top winners, Timothy and Timone Moore, for their “Sock Buddies” magnetic device that assures socks never disappear during laundry time. Makaileigh Barnes and her “Aroma Booster” necklace and Curtis Dickerson and the “Sock it To Me” protective toe socks insert received honors as runner ups.

For more details about White and the ECIER Foundation, visit www.ecier.org.

A musical celebration

Troy Webdell, founder of the South Shore Orchestra, has spent the past year helping prepare for the musical organization’s 20th anniversary milestone season this summer.

Webdell, who lives in Fort Wayne and serves as the orchestra’s maestro, has teamed with Valparaiso Events to present the South Shore Orchestra 20th Anniversary Concert in Central Park Plaza at 7 p.m. June 13. The concert is free and will feature general seating.

For the past 20 years, the South Shore Orchestra has performed throughout the entire South Shore region, as well as a sold-out concert at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and six concert tours in 48 cities throughout China.

Founded by Webdell in 2004, he said South Shore Orchestra remains committed “to bridging musicians, audiences and communities to advance enjoyment and appreciation of orchestra music throughout the South Shore region and beyond.”

“I’ve said it so often, that music is a universal language that brings communities together to share thoughts of understanding, equality and tolerance,” Webdell said.

“There are times when a person’s entire perspective on life can change after hearing a single piece of music. Music is a powerful force, and we, as the members of this orchestra, are deeply passionate about it,” he said.

Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org.