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Enactus Puerto Rico opens nat’l annual competition

From left: Enactus Chairwoman Carmen Laura Marrero and several of the students participating in the Enactus competition.

From left: Enactus Chairwoman Carmen Laura Marrero and several of the students participating in the Enactus competition.

Students from nine local universities will present their proposals to improve the quality of life and promote sustainability in communities in need throughout the island at the national annual competition organized by Enactus Puerto Rico (previously known as SIFE), that will take place June 23-25, to select the champion team that will represent Puerto Rico at the World Cup 2013.

During the competition, the university teams ― which through the past academic year developed their projects guided by professors and entrepreneurs that served as mentors ― will have to prove in 17 minutes the impact of these initiatives in improving the standard of living in these communities and how these communities were benefited “through the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives”, said Lola Yglesias, executive director of Enactus Puerto Rico.

“Our island is part of the almost 40 countries that are promoting a better, healthier and more peaceful world through this effort,” Yglesias added.

She said that last year, the teams positively influenced the lives of more than 8,000 people, invested more than 120,000 hours of volunteer work in the 36 projects that were developed, with an estimated economic value of $10 million.

Business leaders that support the organization, which describes itself as a community of entrepreneurs at work for the common good, will be the judges in charge of selecting the champion team that will represent Puerto Rico at the Enactus 2013 World Cup, which will be held in September, in Cancún, Mexico.

On the other hand, Yglesias announced the launching of the new institutional campaign “Enactus is transforming the future of Puerto Rico”, whose objective is to increase the participation of university students and professors, volunteer mentors and sponsors to expand Enactus’ reach and continue to encourage the development of sustainability in more communities around Puerto Rico.

The campaign features the key players of successful initiatives that have been developed through Enactus: students, entrepreneurs that served as mentors, university professors and the community that benefited from the project. Created and produced by DDB Latina Puerto Rico, the public service campaign includes print media, television, radio and billboards.

Some of Enactus Puerto Rico’s sponsors are: Able Sales, Burger King, Clorox, DDB Latina Puerto Rico, Holsum, Johnson & Johnson, Molinos de Puerto Rico, Oriental, Puerto Rico Supplies Group, Suiza Dairy, Walgreens, Walmart, and William Estrella Attorneys and Counselors.

Author Details
Author Details
Business reporter with 30 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
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1 Comment

  1. Kenneth McClintock June 20, 2013

    Congratulations to the sponsors whose sense of corporate responsibility helps hone the talents of these young men and women, preparing them for challenging post-grad studies and professional careers. I’ve been a SIFE (now ENACTUS) judge in the past and believe it’s a great program.

    Reply

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