Letter from the CEO
Dear Friends of BUILD,
This spring, we had the great pleasure of inaugurating the first Youth Business Plan Competition for BUILD Oakland. This marks a milestone for our organization. For seven years, BUILD has held one central Business Plan Competition at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business for all our E1 students from the Peninsula and in the last three years, from Oakland as well. Although never a quiet or small occasion, the Peninsula Competition could no longer accommodate all of BUILD’s E1 students, with our Oakland site having grown into a full-size operation. Oakland now requires its own distinct and wonderful Business Plan Competition.
The Peninsula BPC was simply awesome, and a big “Congratulations!” goes out to the winners Young Hype and their mentors. And then the Oakland BPC, which was just seven days after the Peninsula BPC, was also a fantastic success. Congrats to Beat the Heat and their mentors. I know all BUILD staff is glad that those events are behind us! I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the BUILD team for two exceptional events, and a truly exceptional year.
In other news, we continue to grow, not just with hiring at HQ, but also with preparation for our Washington, DC office. Ajuah Helton, who you may have seen at the Oakland BPC, will be working in the Bay Area for the summer, documenting BUILD’s programs so that we will be able to show the Capitol City what we’re all about. Look for Ajuah at the Peninsula and Oakland offices.
Also, farewell and good luck to this year’s senior class, all of whom will be leaving high school for college – I could not be more proud. Every member of this year’s class will be leaving high school to attend college! Some will go to two-year colleges to prepare for the rigors of a four-year university and others will be in intensive five-year programs that will include graduate-level work from the first year. We are equally proud of each and every one because of the transformations we have witnessed. To all of you who contributed to these students achieving their dreams, on behalf of BUILD and our students, I thank you.
To the class of 2007, on behalf of BUILD, I extend heartfelt congratulations, love, best wishes and a request that you please visit often.
Suzanne
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