StartingBloc® today announced the recipients of its 2006 Fellowship awards to 240 forwardthinking college students. Fellows will gain real world experience and training to become business and social leaders with the ability to create value for both shareholders and society. College students from over 150 universities including Yale, Harvard, Columbia, LSE, the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, Stanford, McGill, Swarthmore, and Amherst, applied for a select number of spots in The Institute for Social Innovation, a StartingBloc® initiative.
“Today, there are millions of aware, concerned college students who are determined to bring innovative thinking and fresh ideas to help enterprise better foster customer loyalty and create value,” said Martin Smith, President and Co-Founder of StartingBloc®. “Our goal is to provide college students and young professionals with practical knowledge for driving social innovation through enterprise and then connect them with companies who want to hire such needed talent. We help students plan, design, and deploy business models and operational plans that capitalize on innovative thinking, solve social concerns and drive enterprise forward.”
As the 2006 Institute for Social Innovation begins, StartingBloc® has hired Shari Aaron as its new Director of Development. Aaron was a Partner at Yankelovich, Consumer Planner at Ogilvy & Mather and CEO and Founder of Fresh Marketing. This new position will ensure the expansion of StartingBloc’s relationships with businesses, private investors and supporters.
As a recognized authority in building bridges between the business and social sector, Aaron brings a strong understanding of both sustainability and social enterprise to StartingBloc®. Given the limited resources and the complexity in which businesses must operate in today, Aaron is excited to help companies as they tackle tough issues while strengthening the outstanding programs and opportunities offered by StartingBloc®. In addition, Aaron has a deep understanding of the shifts in consumer attitudes toward social responsibility as well as desire for many, including NGO’s, to partner with companies as they move toward greater transparency and positive social impact.
About StartingBloc®
StartingBloc® is a non-profit social enterprise training a new talent pool of young college students poised to help move businesses to a higher level of social engagement. The Institute for Social Innovation is a unique StartingBloc® initiative providing influential and outstanding business and social leaders direct contact with StartingBloc® Fellows during the three month education and training program. All participants in the annual Institute share knowledge and develop new strategies that merge fresh and innovative business practices, ensuring new levels of success for both business and society. www.startingbloc.org
