Denver Public Schools and Operation HOPE Launch Partnership to Inspire and Empower Youth Economic Energy

DENVER, CO. – August 22, 2013 – Denver Public Schools (DPS) and global financial dignity nonprofit Operation HOPE today announced a partnership to bring the Denver2020 HOPE Business In A Box (HBIAB) initiative, a 10-week empowerment and entrepreneurship program that gives students an opportunity to turn their business ideas into reality, to high school and middle school students throughout Denver.

“To prepare kids for college and a career, we must provide students with opportunities to put their knowledge to the test. The HOPE Business in a Box program does just that,” said Assistant Superintendent for Post-Secondary Readiness Antwan Wilson. “This program will challenge our students to innovate and create—and the lessons they learn this year will help them tackle the challenges they will encounter throughout the course of their lives.” 

The HBIAB program, which was piloted at Montbello High School during the 2012-13 school year, begins with each student participating in the Gallup HOPE Index (GHI) measurement, and HOPE’s award-winning Banking on Our Future financial literacy curriculum, followed by an primer course in entrepreneurship. Students then develop their own small business concepts and pitch them to a panel of local business community volunteers and an audience of their student peers. The pitch winners are paired with a business role model who works directly with them to develop their business plan and budget. Once complete the student and their role model presents the plan for an opportunity to earn up to $500 in start-up funding to launch their business.