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Our trailblazing nonprofit initiative, committed to empowering children through entrepreneurial experiences, was selected as the winner of the 2023 Gregor G. Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy!

The Children’s Entrepreneur Market, launched in 2017 by Libertas Institute, was selected by the Peterson family from among 90 nominee organizations. Connor Boyack, president of Libertas Institute, had this to say:

“We are deeply honored to be chosen by the Peterson Family for this prestigious award. We hope our work to create young entrepreneurs helps build Greg Peterson’s legacy of promoting entrepreneurship and fighting for a free market.”

After operating in Utah, the Children’s Entrepreneur Market program successfully expanded to six new states in 2023 and is positioned to be in 18 states in 2024, giving more than 25,000 children an opportunity to try their hand at business. The program aims to operate in every state by 2026, with an eventual goal of being in more than 200 metro areas serving half a million children each year.

Here’s a 2-minute video showing how the markets work:

Our market staff specializes in identifying and securing venues that bring large numbers of a diverse community together where hundreds of authentic interactions are possible. Children develop valuable life skills in this family centered project as they practice the fundamentals of running a small business, all while having fun!

Commenting on their selection of our program as this year’s winner, the Peterson family said:

“We believe the Children’s Entrepreneur Market can touch and shape a lot of young lives.  The little businessmen and businesswomen joining the Children’s Entrepreneur Markets will learn life-defining lessons about freedom and hard work, and they’ll carry these lessons with them throughout their lives.”

The $250,000 prize honors Greg Peterson’s core business principles—including teamwork, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit—and applies these values to the nonprofit sector. Peterson was a pioneer in the field of venture capital from the San Francisco Bay Area.

This funding, distributed over three years, will aid us in our goal of expanding the program nationally to serve hundreds of thousands of children each year. We invite other donors and partners to join us in this effort to bring the program to your community. Contact us here.

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