Echoing Green to Hear Pitches from World’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs at Its Annual BIG BOLD BENEFIT

2012 Winners To Receive $2 Million From The Organization That Seeded Teach For America, City Year, And The SEED Foundation;

Supporter, Chelsea Clinton To Open The Pitches

NEW YORK--Echoing Green, a global nonprofit specializing in high-impact social investments for twenty-five years, today announced that it will host the BIG BOLD BENEFIT on May 10th in New York City's renowned Altman Building. After narrowing down 3,500 applications during a rigorous six month process involving over four hundred reviewers, Echoing Green will offer forty-seven emerging social innovators representing thirty-seven organizations an opportunity to compete on-stage for the prestigious 2012 Echoing Green Fellowship, an award totaling $2 million across the recipients. Chelsea Clinton, a well known supporter of social innovation, will open the high-profile event, made possible with the support of many committed sponsors, including General Atlantic, Barclays, American Securities and J.P. Morgan & Co.

"On May 10th, we will meet the next generation of social entrepreneurs, whose ambition to make a difference in society is unparalleled. A room of philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, and media will be the first to hear about these projects, but within several years, their impact will be felt worldwide."

At BIG BOLD BENEFIT, the Finalists, who represent countries such as the United States, Ghana, Pakistan, India, Kenya, Jordon, and Israel will offer bold solutions to some of today's most pressing social problems. From a proposal that uses cell phones to monitor glucose levels of diabetic patients, to a plan to fight the death penalty in Pakistan on behalf of inmates, Echoing Green Fellowship Finalists will present their sixty-second pitches to a crowd of more than 450 guests. Attendees will also hear from six Echoing Green Fellowship alumni, including Sara Horowitz, founder of the 180,000 strong and growing Freelancer's Union, and the team of Jessica Posner and Kennedy Odede, founders of Shining Hope for Communities, the organization that started the first all-girls school in Kibera, Kenya-the second largest slum in the world. These individuals will share their own experiences in forging social change.

"In our twenty-five years, Echoing Green has seeded over 500 ventures around the world. The innovative social entrepreneurs we support are improving the livelihood of people all around the world, from one acre farmers in Kenya to school children in New York," said Cheryl L. Dorsey, president of Echoing Green. "At BIG BOLD BENEFIT, we will take part in seeding the next new ideas to change the world."

Panels of expert judges from targeted program areas will select from the finalist pool, and Fellowship winners will be announced in June after an intensive weekend of exploratory interviews. In addition to start-up funds, Echoing Green Fellows receive two years of technical support through exclusive conferences, customized consulting opportunities, mentorship advising, and access to the broader Echoing Green network.

"Each year through its Fellowship program, Echoing Green employs the same approach to funding and supporting social entrepreneurs that General Atlantic takes to investing in and helping build growth companies," added Dave Hodgson, managing director of General Atlantic, Echoing Green co-founder and current board chair. "On May 10th, we will meet the next generation of social entrepreneurs, whose ambition to make a difference in society is unparalleled. A room of philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, and media will be the first to hear about these projects, but within several years, their impact will be felt worldwide."

For more information about the Echoing Green's 2012 Finalists visit http://www.echoinggreen.org/blog/2012-finalists.

About Echoing Green:

Founded in 1987 by global growth investor, General Atlantic, Echoing Green unleashes next generation talent to solve the world's biggest problems. To date, Echoing Green has invested over $31 million in seed funding in more than 500 social entrepreneurs (Echoing Green Fellows) and their innovative organizations across the globe. Recognized Echoing Green Alumni include the founders of College Summit, Citizen Schools, One Acre Fund, and SKS Microfinance. Further, Echoing Green drives social innovation by taking the stories, frameworks, and lessons of its Fellows in order to inspire a generation of young people to build meaningful impact-driven careers. Additional information can be found by visiting www.echoinggreen.org.

Contacts

Echoing Green
Senior Vice President
Lara Galinsky, 212-400-3953
Lara@echoinggreen.org