DENVER, CO—June 1, 2019: The Colorado REACH Conference and Gala is hosting a fundraiser gala at the Cable Center on Denver University’s campus at 2000 Buchtel Blvd S, Denver, CO 80210 on Saturday June 1st, 2019 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards providing an entrepreneurial training program to villagers at The Phoenix Settlement Center in Durbin, South Africa under the leadership of Ela Gandhi (granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi).

Colorado entrepreneurs will make this program possible by teaching technical and business skills to Durbin villagers to further their education and create economic sustainability. In addition, the State of Colorado SBDC (Small Business Development Center Network) has committed to utilizing the Leading-Edge entrepreneurship curriculum, a 10-week course designed to teach entrepreneurs how to start and grow a successful business based on an actionable business plan. Funds raised at this event will be used to create this team of Colorado entrepreneurs, offset travel costs, and provide additional tools and resources to Settlement residents.

The Settlement was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1904 as a safe space for the growing Indian population in South Africa. The building that housed the original printing press for Gandhi’s newspaper, Indian Opinion, still stands today and is used as a multi-purpose, educational campus. While the Settlement is an important community resource, Ela Gandhi has identified that it is lacking a way for villagers to sustainably support themselves. Many of the villagers are artisans and are creative in making use of the resources available to create sellable items for tourists and fellow villagers. However, they are lacking the business skills to make their work economically sustainable.

“What Ela (Gandhi) hopes for is a program or course that could teach residents basic entrepreneurial and business skills to better support themselves and become economically independent and successful. This is what REACH is working to make a reality,” said REACH Director, Michelle Campbell.

Before the gala, guests will visit REACH donors at their homes for an intimate dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. with special appearances by Colorado artisans. At 6 p.m. guests and hosts will make their way to the Cable Center for the gala and auction where they will have the opportunity to bid on items curated from Colorado artists and businesses, like Urban Hardwood Furniture. There will also be opportunities to win trips, vacations, and other experiences. All items will be auctioned in a silent and live auction. People can support REACH’s Global Entrepreneurial initiative by purchasing tickets to the gala or by donating through REACH’s website: www.coreachconf.com

https://www.eventbrite.com/supportREACH (Respecting Ethnic and Cultural Heritage) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing equity in communities and education. REACH works directly with educators and the business community to provide training on how to best bring a multicultural approach and lens to the classroom and workplace. Additional information can be found at coREACHconf.com