SAP and GENYOUth Help Philadelphia Students Learn Design Thinking to Lead Local Change in their Communities

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Next week, local students from Philadelphia, will come together with corporate executives and special guests to take part in a unique workshop at SAP's National Headquarters in Newtown Square to help students think and act like entrepreneurs, as part of the SAP Social Innovation Series, a five-city tour where aspiring student entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of business experts in a "Shark-Tank" style competition. The SAP Social Innovation Series is running consecutively in five cities this fall: New York City (10/6), San Francisco (10/8), Phoenix (10/27), Philadelphia (11/2) and Dallas (11/4). 

The SAP Social Innovation Series is presented in partnership with health and wellness nonprofit, GENYOUth as part of an ongoing partnership between the two organizations to help scale GENYOUth's social entrepreneurship program, AdVenture Capital (AdCap), by investing in would-be student entrepreneurs who are fostering change and innovation in their local schools and communities as well as across the country.

"The digital economy is transforming our lives. With each successive generation we see an increased need to be faster, smarter and more agile and to think in non-traditional ways," says Dave Spencer, managing director, East Region, SAP. "The SAP partnership with GENYOUth to build the AdCap platform is a fantastic way for SAP to help students become social entrepreneurs and innovators in their local communities and work to solve the problems of today with an eye towards the future."

GENYOUth was co-founded by the National Dairy Council, which helps activate its programs locally across the country, and recruited students for the SAP Social Innovation Series. "These students are full of amazing ideas to help improve health and wellness at their schools," said Sharon Piano, MS RD LDN Senior Manager, Fuel Up to Play 60, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. "Having the chance to bring those ideas to the table and work with expert mentors from a major company like SAP is a once in a lifetime experience for them. We are excited to see how they take the skills they learn at this workshop and apply them to improving their schools."

During these five-hour workshops, students will have the opportunity to work closely with subject-matter experts from SAP to refine their ideas before a final group of students pitch to a panel of judges, including SAP executives and customers in a "Shark Tank" style competition. Select students will receive prizes and funding for their schools, with the top three turning their pitches into videos that the public will vote on, along with SAP employees across the country. Up to $12,000 in grants will be given away at each event, and the student who receives the most votes will earn the title of SAP Teen Innovator and will go on to receive an additional $10,000 for his/her school and be honored at Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco, CA.

For more information about AdVenture Capital, the opportunities offered for students, and the SAP Social Innovation Series events visit www.AdCapYOUth.org.

About AdVenture Capital
Created by GENYOUth and informed by students, AdVenture Capital inspires students to create and make school and community wellness changes through an online social entrepreneurship platform. AdCap officially launched in 2012, rewarding two rounds of winners with grant money and an "experience" with professional mentors in a business setting. In 2013, a partnership was established with SAP Global CSR to create a digital platform that would allow students to design projects, get inspired by past grantees, connect with mentors and apply for funding, all online. AdVenture Capital is where the creative, curious and brave student entrepreneurs gather to inspire and make change that will last for years to come. For more information, visit www.AdCapYOUth.org.

About GENYOUth
A leading nonprofit, GENYOUth brings leaders in health and wellness, education, government and business together in a movement to empower America's youth to achieve a healthier future by uniting partners, raising funds and uplifting the student voice. GENYOUth has established itself as a thought leader in youth health and wellness and collaborates with its partners to convene experts, conduct research, publish perspective reports, and build programs that make a lasting difference in the pursuit of healthy, high-achieving youth. Founded in 2010 through a public-private partnership with the National Dairy Council and the NFL, GENYOUth has raised funds, increased visibility and commitment to school wellness among health and wellness leaders, educators, students, parents, community leaders and businesses. Learn more about GENYOUth partnership, volunteer and donation opportunities at www.genyouthfoundation.org or contact us at [email protected]

About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 293,500 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

About Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program are the local planning and management organizations funded by dairy farmer checkoff dollars. They work closely with Dairy Management Inc. ™ and are responsible for increasing demand for dairy products on behalf of Mid-Atlantic dairy farmers. For more information, visit www.dairyspot.com.

SOURCE GENYOUth