Texanthropy Spotlight: University of Houston SURE™ Program - 2017 Governor’s Volunteer Award Winners
This past weekend I had the honor of giving the commencement address to the over 150 entrepreneurs graduating from the University of Houston SURE™ Program, which was the 2017 Governor’s Volunteer Award winner of the Higher Education Community Impact Award, and this week's Texanthropy Spotlight! This award recognizes a college or university that supports and encourages civic engagement and volunteering as a core value, and aids in addressing community needs. The SURE™ Program, based at the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business, stands for Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship, and that is exactly what the program has been doing since 2012 with remarkable results.
The SURE™ Program has trained over 600 entrepreneurs from underserved and disadvantaged backgrounds, and helped them launch over 80 businesses. The program does this by equipping its graduates with the skills they need to help them realize their dream of starting their own business. At the heart of the SURE™ Program is a commitment to service and civic engagement in Houston. The program has been sustained over the years due to the tireless commitment of its founder, Dr. Saleha Khumawala, and a stream of countless volunteers, including business students and Houston-area professionals. When it comes to empowering local entrepreneurs from underserved communities, the SURE™ Program is truly making a lasting impact.
Congratulations to the University of Houston SURE™ Program, the 2017 Governor’s Volunteer Awards Higher Education Community Impact Award Winner. And best wishes to all of the graduates!