FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Callahan, Program Coordinator, ActionCOACH Foundation
PHONE/EMAIL: 702.947.9445 / karencallahan@actioncoach.com
YESS March 2022 International Graduating Class Shine Light
and Hope through the Clouds Hanging Over the World
LAS VEGAS--March 8, 2022--ActionCOACH Foundation recognized a record-breaking 77 youth between the ages of 12 and 22 for their successful completion of a twelve-week YESS Business Basics course. This March 2022 International Graduating Class is 306 % larger than our last class in November and 700% larger than our first graduating class last July. In addition, 60 of the 77 students in this class live in Lithuania, one of the Baltic States much involved in providing humanitarian aid to the Ukraine. The remaining 17 live all over the world.
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 awaits them in the future, these students are taking action to help unlock the doors of opportunity for themselves and the employees of the future businesses they create in their communities.
The virtual graduation ceremony took place via Zoom on Tuesday, March 8, at 1:30 pm PST 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 Group Recruitment Task Force Chair, Arthur Rosaria.
Three special awards were presented by Rosaria to graduating students: Aurelija Gvildyte from Kauno Jono Basanaviciaus Gymnazija in Lithuania for Best Vision Board; Mykolas Rindokas, also from Kauno Jono Basanaviciaus Gymnazija in Lithuania, for Best Business Plan for his business LitSky; and Anastasia Theodoridis from SAHETI High School in South Africa for Best Video Pitch for her business, Prosthetic-Bits.
Appearances by class facilitators and mentors added specialness to the ceremony. Josh Bardsley, Foundation Board Member and Chair of the YESS Club, the exclusive club that graduates are invited to join, set the stage for what the students could expect after graduation. Brad Sugars, Founding Board Member and Founder of ActionCOACH, 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." Giedre Motejuniene, the teacher who launched and facilitated the local Kauno Jono Basanaviciaus Gymnazija cohort in Lithuania, and Keon Smith, ActionCOACH and facilitator of the October International Group, introduced the video parades of their respective grads.
The highlight of the ceremony, of course, was the recognition of the graduates. To view the full 30-minute virtual presentation, visit the video on the Foundation's You Tube channel at: https://youtu.be/AFVmHtwLWDE. There is also a shorter, 5-minute highlight reel available at: https://youtu.be/VUh7O7AN18U.
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 12- to 22-year-olds, who receive the education for free. Each student must complete twelve weeks of videos, Action Assignments and weekly exams. In addition, they each submitted vision boards, basic business plans and video business pitches.
YESS Business Basics has enrolled over 735 students all over the world in just over one year since its launch in February of 2021. To date, 123 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 Foundation Coordinator, 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.
