SCORE Supports Small Business Saturday on November 24th, 2012 Through Its Nationwide Network

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Nov 20, 2012, 09:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SCORE, – www.score.org- mentors to America's small businesses, is proud to support small business enterprises year round and champions the effort to highlight them this Small Business Saturday, November 24^th, 2012. Celebrated the weekend following Thanksgiving and a day after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday draws attention to the profound economic impacts small businesses have on their local communities and seeks to raise awareness of and increase patronage to small businesses across the nation. SCORE, with its nationwide network of 340+ chapters and 12,000+ volunteer mentors, will work with small business clients on Small Business Saturday to help engage their communities in support of this integral aspect of America's economy. Shoppers are encouraged to 'Shop Small' and look for the 'Proud to be a SCORE #SmallBiz' decal.

Small businesses offer important economic and social benefits to their communities. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, 91% of small-business owners contributed to their community in the last year through volunteering, in-kind contributions, and/or direct cash donations. Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express OPEN as an effort to highlight the effect of small businesses and bolster these enterprises to the same level of awareness attained by big box stores during Black Friday and online stores during Cyber Monday.

"Our network of 12,000+ volunteer mentors work hard every day to strengthen America's small businesses," said SCORE CEO Ken Yancey. "Each year, we gladly work in tandem with the Small Business Saturday effort which seeks the same result."

In an effort to publicize Small Business Saturday events in communities across the country, SCORE has distributed a promotional toolkit to all SCORE chapters. All SCORE mentors and their clients will be equipped with marketing tools, social media suggestions and promotional items to help their small business clients prepare for the day and to help create buzz in their communities. The 'Proud to be a SCORE #SmallBiz' will be posted at SCORE client businesses nationwide.

American Express OPEN provides information for consumers and small business owners alike at www.smallbusinesssaturday.com. Consumers can find out where to shop to take advantage of applicable discounts and small business owners are offered resources including marketing materials and free online advertising.

About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 9 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. More than 12,000 business experts volunteer as mentors in over 340 chapters serving local communities with entrepreneur education to help grow 1 million small businesses.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans and www.twitter.com/SCOREMentors.

Contact Information
Shalini Karnani Bonjour
800/634-0245
[email protected]

SOURCE SCORE