Every year, NFIB honors aspiring young business owners with our Young
Entrepreneur Foundation (YEF) Scholarships. This year, 100 students across the
country were selected to receive a scholarship, and two Florida students were
among the semi-finalists.
For the first time in the program’s history, both Florida scholarships
were fully funded by donations from two NFIB/Florida Leadership Council members:
Bennett Pumo and Alan Wiessner.
Isaac Hetzroni of Parkland received the NFIB/B & L’s
Benedetto’s Italia Young Entrepreneur Foundation Award of $2,000. Isaac’s
enterprise is Soldier Rush.
Pumo, Owner and Chef of
Benedetto’s Ristorante Italian in Land O Lakes, contributed to YEF because he
recognizes how crucial it is that young business owners are rewarded for their
hard work. Pumo encourages young people to take the risks associated with owning
a small business, asserting that conscientious owners will reap the benefits in
the long-run.
“If
we don’t promote young people to strive to work hard for themselves, we will be
left with followers instead of leaders,” Chef Pumo said.
Giselle Gallardo of Miami received the NFIB/Alan J. Wiessner
Entrepreneur Award of $2,000. Giselle’s enterprise is Crazy 4 Bows Boutique.
Al Wiessner, President and CEO of Integra Business Systems in Safety
Harbor, funded a scholarship for YEF because he understands that job creators, entrepreneurs, and business
owners create two-thirds of the jobs in our economy. He credits the success of
young entrepreneurs as essential to the future of all Americans, and he hopes
his donation this year will honor and encourage student success.
“Entrepreneurs are the life blood of the American free enterprise system,” said
Wiessner.
NFIB/Florida and its generous Leadership Council are proud to honor
deserving young people for their hard work in the advancement of
entrepreneurship.
“NFIB/Florida wishes Florida’s recipients, Giselle and Isaac, the best of luck
in their future entrepreneurial endeavors,” said Bill Herrle, NFIB/Florida’s
Executive Director. “We hope that these awards inspire other young leaders to
take the leap and pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship.”
