Green Bridge Growers is an "innovative social venture" providing jobs and hope for young adults with autism, and while doing so, bringing some delicious and wholesome food to the table. The project, founded in South Bend, IN, has partnered with the ESTEEM program and many other local non-profits to create a venture that is both impactful and sustainable.
Recently, Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business' Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the McCloskey Business Plan Competition, in which the Green Bridge Growers received the Klau Family Price for Greatest Social Impact. In addition, at the McCloskey Business Plan Competition three Green Bridge Growers and ESTEEM students came in with top honors: Shane McQuillan's project Contect won first prize of $25,000 as well as Torigen, led by Ashley Kalinauskas, and Green Bridge Growers, Conor O'Donoghue and Tom Collins coming in runner up receiving $5,000.
In addition to the great work all of our ESTEEM students are working on, the four ESTEEM students that are part of the Green Bridge Growers team have shown exceptional growth in the field of social entrepreneurship. So we, at ESTEEM, would like to pass on our highest congratulations to Conor O'Donoghue, Anthony O'Sullivan, Shane McCarthy, Shane McQuillan and Tom Collins for all of their incredible work.
Please follow the link for more information on these four awesome ESTEEM Students: http://www.greenbridgegrowers.net/2013/07/teamwork-its-brilliant.html