StreetShares Foundation Honors Three Veteran Small Businesses: Awards $10,000 to Support Veterans Entrepreneurship and Impact

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The StreetShares Foundation announced today winners of its monthly Veteran Small Business Awards. StreetShares Foundation and JPMorgan Chase have partnered to provide winners with awards of $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

January Winners

1^st Place: Courtney Wilson, Army Veteran and Founder/CEO of DropZone for Veterans (Boston, Massachusetts) 

2^nd Place: Tara Hutchinson, Army Veteran and Founder of Tara Hutch Fine Jewelry (San Antonio, Texas)

3^rd Place: Robert Wray, Navy Veteran and CEO of BlueStar HonorCare (Rockville, Maryland)

"We're honored to provide educational resources and financial support to inspirational entrepreneurs," said Mark L. Rockefeller, Director of the StreetShares Foundation. "These military community entrepreneurs have truly given back to the veteran community and continue to improve the lives of veterans daily."

The Foundation selected 10 finalists based on a scaled score, considering the entrepreneurs' business idea, product-market fit, use of funds, team, and influence on the military community. A public vote determined the winners.

About the Winners

DropZone for Veterans, is a central online database of thousands of businesses and organizations that support military veterans. After helping a fellow soldier get access to a healing retreat, Courtney Wilson, CEO of DropZone, created a place where veterans could easily access the thousands of benefits and resources available to them. More than half of veterans don't use the benefits created exclusively for them. DropZone was built to fill that gap.

Tara Hutch Fine Jewelry was created by Tara Hutchinson, Army veteran, who experienced a tragic accident from an IED. She lost her leg and suffered brain damage that led to a Parkinson's-like movement disorder. Doctors advised her to start a hobby utilizing fine motor skills. She turned to making jewelry. As a self-taught jewelry artist, she had newly found confidence. Her jewelry was helping other women feel good about themselves while celebrating their differences.

BlueStar HonorCare helps America's aging veterans and family members maintain healthy, safe and independent lives from their homes through technology, including medical alert systems and health monitoring devices. CEO Robert Wray, strives to serve the veteran community with the people who work at BlueStar, the people who benefit from its services and by giving a portion of profits directly to veteran causes.

StreetShares Foundation Awards are given monthly to veteran, current reserve, active duty members and qualified military spouse business owners. Learn more at StreetShares.com/Foundation.

Contact: Shauna Vo Pulayya, 1-347-330-4104, [email protected]

SOURCE StreetShares, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.streetshares.com