ECIER Foundation held a holiday dinner for its students

ECIER Foundation and the City of Gary award scholarships

Contributed By:The 411 News

The ECIER Foundation hosted its inaugural holiday dinner for students enrolled in the foundation’s programs. Students were treated to dinner at the Diamond Center in Gary. Righteous Ribs proprietors Apostle Kelly Williams and Pastor Eric Boone hosted the dinner.

Students received holiday bags filled with gifts from Indiana American Water, Majestic Star Casino/Spectacle Entertainment, South Shore Railcats, Peoples Bank, Chicagoland Popcorn, Gary Educational Development Foundation Inc. and donations from the ECIER Foundation Board of Directors and Friends of ECIER.

Four ECIER Alumni students were awarded scholarships: Joshua Phillips ($2,500 to Purdue University Northwest), Zharia Dodson ($2,500 to Trine University), Maya Bailey ($2,000 to IVY Tech Community College) and Aaron Whittaker, ($2,000 to Huston Tillotson University).

In November 2020, ECIER Foundation hosted a kickoff and a workshop for a select group of students enrolled in the program to design, produce and host their own television show. Students will provide the name of the show, be taught how to run the cameras, become directors and host their own show.

ECIER Foundation offers three programs – Gary Scholars/Innovators & Entrepreneurs, Future Leaders and ECIER Alumni.

• Future Leaders – the program is geared towards middle school students to be empowered on how to become innovators and entrepreneurs at an early age.

• Gary Scholars, Innovators and Entrepreneurs – high school students are required to attend workshops, learn about various careers, innovation & entrepreneurship and meet with entrepreneurs. Producing the television show is a new addition for the students. Upon completion of the program, students become eligible to receive a scholarship to attend a college or university of their choice.

• Alumni Program – students attending college including college graduates become mentors to the current ECIER middle school and high school students. The Alumni also become guest speakers for the foundation along with sharing their successes and challenges in college and their entrepreneurial businesses.

ECIER Foundation and the City of Gary partnered to engage in awarding scholarships to Gary Scholars to help empower today’s youth with a good education. Majestic Star Casino/Spectacle Entertainment provided the donations for the scholarships.

ECIER Foundation, founded by Chareice White, is a non-profit organization created to educate and empower youth about careers, innovation and entrepreneurship, to realize their potential and achieve their dreams. ECIER stands for “Educate Create Innovate Entrepreneur Relationships.”

Story Posted:12/30/2020