FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Callahan, Program Director, ActionCOACH Foundation
PHONE/EMAIL: 702.947.9445 / karencallahan@actioncoach.com
Announcing the March 2023 YESS Graduates
LAS VEGAS--March 7, 2023--ActionCOACH Foundation recognized 25 youth between the ages of 11 and 23 for their successful completion of a twelve-week YESS Business Basics course. The graduates represented countries from all over the world, including South Africa, Jamaica, England, Guatemala and Trinidad/Tobago.
The virtual graduation ceremony took place via Zoom on Tuesday, March 7, at 8:00 am PT and was attended by students, family members, friends and mentors, as well as staff and coaches from the ActionCOACH family. The ceremony was hosted by board member and YESS Content & Engagement Task Force Chair, Cathy Reinhold. Students received well wishes from Board Member and YESS Club Chair, Josh Bardsley. Thereafter, Founding Board Member and Founder of ActionCOACH, Brad Sugars, delivered a brief commencement address entitled, 'Making Your Dreams Come True.' According to Sugars, “We want to make entrepreneurs, not employees. When we 'ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in youth worldwide,' we help inspire and educate future leaders who can accelerate the global impact of an ActionCOACH business education."
Four special awards were presented by Reinhold to graduating students. Cloete Oosthuizen won the award for Best Vision Board. Antonie Zeevaart took home the Best Business Plan for his 4 x 4 accessories business, OverLanding Gurus. And for the first time in the history of YESS Business Basics graduations, there were so many fabulous video pitches submitted that two categories were creates for the different age groups. Eleven-year-old Fia de Oliveira won Best Video Pitch in the 11-16 year-old category for her pitch for her horse treat business, Equi Nibbels. Phillip Vorster, age 21, won Best Video Pitch in the 17-22-year- old category for his business, P. Willhelm Vorster Fine Jewellers & Arts.
The highlight of the ceremony, of course, was the recognition of all of the graduates. To view the full 30-minute virtual presentation, visit the Foundation's You Tube channel at: https://youtu.be/WUy1RFgzAXo. There is also a 3-minute highlight reel available at: https://youtu.be/Ldj6C45nYPY.
Students repeatedly share with Foundation leadership how the program has opened the doors to new opportunities for them, helping them build confidence and a "wealth mindset." At a time when many around the world feel hopeless and afraid of what the future holds, these students are helping to unlock the doors of opportunity for themselves and their future employees.
YESS Business Basics is a twelve-week, virtual course that serves as an introduction into ActionCOACH Foundation's YESS Young Entrepreneur Smart Start program. It is designed to instill the business principles of ActionCOACH Founder, Brad Sugars, into youth ages 12- to 22, who receive the education for free. Each student must complete twelve weeks of videos, Action Assignments and weekly exams. In addition, they are each required to submit vision boards, basic business plans and video business pitches.
YESS Business Basics has enrolled over 1,200 students all over the world since its inception in early 2021. To date, over 200 students have graduated from the program. The program is free to qualified youth.
If you would like to learn how to create a local YESS cohort in your community or you have a student near and dear to your heart who would like to apply independently, visit https://actioncoachfoundation.org/yess-program/
About ActionCOACH Foundation
ActionCOACH Foundation was founded in 2018 and is operated out of ActionCOACH Global Headquarters in Las Vegas. This Spring, the Foundation re-launched ActionCOACH's ‘Coaching for a Cause’ program under the umbrella of the Foundation and launched its new YESS Young Entrepreneur Smart Start program to provide free business education to young adults ages 12-22 in February of 2021. For more information on any Foundation activities, visit www.actioncoachfoundation.org or contact the Program Manager, Karen Callahan, at 702-947-9445 or karencallahan@actioncoach.com
About ActionCOACH®
ActionCOACH, the world’s largest business coaching franchise, was established and founded in Brisbane, Australia by Brad Sugars in 1993 when the concept of business coaching was still in its infancy. Since franchising the company in 1997, ActionCOACH has helped business coaching become more mainstream and the company has nearly 1,000 coaches in more than 70 countries working with approximately 18,000 businesses weekly to improve results. ActionCOACH specializes in coaching small to medium-sized businesses as well as executives, and their teams. ActionCOACH maintains its growth and strategic alliances by continual development of cutting-edge innovative technology, proven business processes, and systems to add value, satisfaction and additional income streams for its franchisees. ActionCOACH’s global headquarters is in Las Vegas. Visit ActionCOACH.com for more information.
