Gladys Marinelli Coccia Awards

Deadline: 

 September 30, 2012

 

YSA is accepting nominations for The Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award, recognizing two exceptional young people, ages 13 to 22, who are actively engaged in social entrepreneurship and in leading sustainable social change. Two honorees will be selected to receive $2,000 to support their social enterprise and receive resources and technical assistance from YSA.

What is a social entrepreneur?

Social entrepreneurs apply business practices to achieve positive social change and measure their success through their social impact. They find innovative and sustainable ways to address pressing issues. Ambitious and persistent, they grapple with important causes and offer new alternatives that enhance the community.  Social entrepreneurs change the system, spread solutions, and persuade others to change their actions. With a sound application of business principles, social entrepreneurs have a sustainable impact on their community:  their influence contributes to a healthy, productive, meaningful life for others, both present and future.

Nominations are open through September 30, 2012. Start your nomination here! 

Nominees must:

Be a social entrepreneur who has launched and is leading their own program aimed at sustainable social change

Have a business plan and a budget for how the award will be used for the social enterprise

Be between the ages 13 and 22 at the time of nomination

Be nominated by organizations, peers or adults mentors. Self-nominations will also be accepted. 

Provide two support letters from mentors, teachers, community partners, funders, or others not related to nominee.

 Be located in United States. One of the two honorees will be selected from the Washington, D.C. or West Virginia region.

Honorees will receive:

• $2,000 to be invested in their social enterprise. 
• Ongoing support from YSA through GYSD 2013 to provide resources and technical assistance from YSA, if desired.

About the Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award

The Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award honors the late Mrs. Gladys Marinelli Coccia (1915-2007). The grandmother of YSA Board Member Brian Murrow, Gladys grew up in southern West Virginia and, in 1959, moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where she was well known in the Italian-American business community as the owner and operator of Marinelli's Delicatessen, which she established in 1962 and managed for the subsequent 30 years.