Kids Are Heroes is a nonprofit that encourages young business people between the ages of five and 18 to pursue their social entrepreneurship aspirations. Started in 2009 with a website built to save homeless animals, the mission quickly expanded to include the welfare of people and the environment as well. Not long after that, Richard Branson highlighted the organization on his “PitchTV” television show. I was fortunate to speak with co-founder Gabe O’Neil about the organization and how he and his daughter, MaryMargaret O’Neill, got started.
Gabe says many children are picked on and feel isolated because of their entrepreneurial nature. With Kids Are Heroes, these budding ‘treps are suddenly mainstream and surrounded by other young entrepreneurs who share their open-minded spirit. Kids Are Heroes serves as an incubator and network for these young social entrepreneurs.
Kids Are Heroes is in its eighth year and will be part of the Kids Business Expo this Saturday, February 7 in Atlanta, Georgia. The one-day conference serves young entrepreneurs between the ages of 12 and 18. The day is filled with everything from marketing seminars, young ‘trep networking opportunities to a trade show! The goal is to provide future business leaders with the information they need for to fulfill their plans. The conference is a perfect fit for Kids Are Heroes. With complimentary goals and the same target audience, coupling Kids Are Heroes with the Kids Business Expo was an easy choice for Gabe.
Attendees this year will have the good fortune of listening to keynote speaker and well-known working entrepreneur, Marcus Lemonis. Star of one of my favorite television shows, The Profit, Lemonis answered the call to speak