Press Release – JANUARY 29, 2018 — WINNETKA, IL — If you are an aspiring entrepreneur who also happens to be blind you may think that your obstacles are insurmountable. But you are not alone in this effort. Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired has practical coursework to help you develop your business and also a chance to win some cash to bring your dream to life.
As the nation’s oldest and largest provider of learning programs that empower those with vision loss to thrive at home, at work, and in their communities, Hadley has announced its 3rd annual New Venture Competition, which will award upwards of $30,000 to deserving individuals to help bring the dream of owning their own business to life.
The competition is open to legally blind U.S. residents who successfully complete at least one course from Hadley’s Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship, who will have a significant operational role, and a majority ownership in the new business.
“The purpose of the New Venture competition is to inspire our students to think more critically about their own business ideas and to practically apply the ideas learned in our courses to build a real business venture,” said Colleen Wunderlich, Director of the Forsythe Center for Employment & Entrepreneurship.
An MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Ms. Wunderlich is herself blind and has served in her current position at Hadley since 2013.
The New Venture competition is intended for new ventures in the start-up, or early growth stages of business development and which must reside within the United States.
Applicants will be required to submit a business plan no larger than 10-pages and which includes a one-page executive summary. Plans will be judged on a number of criteria, including the likelihood of achieving a viable new venture.
Entries must be submitted in either Microsoft Excel or Word formats by Thursday, March 15. Interested applicants can email FCE@hadley.edu for more information or questions. Additional information including entry forms and how submitted plans will be judged are available by visiting www.hadley.edu/FCE.
About The Forsythe Center for Employment & Entrepreneurship (FCE)
FCE offers tuition-free courses and one-lesson, online modules to help prepare visually impaired individuals for employment and entrepreneurship. Whether looking for a job, wanting a better job or interested in being your own boss, Hadley helps individuals develop the business skills needed to be successful.
Learning focuses on business-related topics, technology, self-employment, and entrepreneurship and is offered through its Adult Continuing Education Program.
Courses and modules are practical, relevant and interactive. They are designed to provide requisite computer training; relevant Social Security, tax, accounting, legal, marketing, management and communications information; and content specific to the needs and concerns of individuals who are visually impaired.
About Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The mission of Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired is to create personalized learning opportunities that empower people to thrive — at home, at work and in their communities. Hadley is the largest provider of distance education for people who are blind or visually impaired worldwide, serving more nearly 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries. A 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, we rely on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund its programs. Watch our videos to learn more about our students, programs and donors. www.hadley.edu
