Volunteer Embraces The Power Of Business To Make Social Change
Sally Messinger honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Carson J Spencer Foundation.
- Denver, CO (1888PressRelease) August 17, 2012 - Sally Messinger cares deeply about her students, about business education, and now about the cause of suicide prevention. As the High School Program Manager for Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc., Messinger had been very involved in educating high school students about financial literacy for almost a decade. This past academic year, however, she chose to volunteer her time to apply these skills and passions in way that went above and beyond her paid position with Junior Achievement. Over a period of nine months, Messinger helped inspire youth entrepreneurs to use innovation and business skills to address root causes of suicidal distress in their community.
As a volunteer educator for the Carson J Spencer Foundation's FIRE Within program, Messinger met weekly with a group of students from Columbine High School to teach them how to build a business that was both profitable and purposeful in its mission to save lives. On Sunday, August 26th, Messinger will be recognized as the Carson J Spencer Foundation's Volunteer of the Year at the 8th annual Shining Lights of Hope Gala (6:00-9:00pm at the Turnhalle Ballroom in the Tivoli, more information at www.CarsonJSpencer.org) for her year-long service with the FIRE Within program.
The FIRE Within program, in partnership with Junior Achievement and the Second Wind Fund, strives to empower student-driven suicide prevention through social entrepreneurship. Messinger mentored a class of Columbine business students as they created a campaign designed to decrease social isolation and "Combine Columbine." In February of 2012, the Columbine class won the FIRE Within Social Enterprise Plan Competition and was given $500 seed funding to help launch their business. During the spring of 2012, the students sold over $1,500 worth of lanyards imprinted with the "Combine Columbine" message. The lanyards also marketed a student-developed website where students could take pledges to "Live United" and look out for one another.
Messinger mentioned that the highlight of the year included seeing the reaction of the students when they won the business plan competition and how this turning point made the students realize their big ideas had become a reality.
"I am so honored to be recognized as Volunteer of the Year," says Messinger. "All the credit goes to the students for making it such a great experience serving as their volunteer."
About the Carson J Spencer Foundation - Sustaining a Passion for Life
The Carson J Spencer Foundation (www.CarsonJSpencer.org) is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005. We envision a world where leaders and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for life. We sustain a passion for life by:
• Delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention programs for working-aged people
• Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion and suicide prevention
• Supporting people bereaved by suicide
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