Family Learning Center Students Get Real-Life Business Experience
in Summer Program
Top Boulder Business Leaders from Sterling-Rice, Noodles & Company
Take Part as Guest Speakers

Boulder, Colo., June 29, 2009-Learning how to launch and market a business. Creating a new food item for a local restaurant. Designing and racing a soapbox derby car. These are a few of the ways that 50 middle school students, ages 11 to 14, from the Family Learning Center (FLC) will spend their summer as part of the FLC's Summer Academic and Entrepreneurial Program. The Family Learning Center is a Boulder non-profit dedicated to encouraging successful lifelong learning and economic self-sufficiency for families of diverse cultures and limited incomes.

Students will participate in a variety of hands-on entrepreneurial projects that will teach them the business skills, leadership and confidence required to become successful business owners. The program is made possible through grants and in-kind support from the Boedecker Foundation, Boulder Police Department, Boulder Valley School District, University of Colorado-Boulder, private donations and other community organizations.

See below for events that the media is invited to attend:

How to start a Business: Develop a business, marketing, branding and strategic plan:
Students will learn how to conceptualize business ideas, how to take those ideas and organize them into a profitable business, through developing a business, marketing and strategic plan.

· Interview & Photo opportunities with Guest speakers:

­ 1:30 pm, July 2 at the Family Learning Center (3164 34th St., Boulder, CO 80301) -Tom Koby, former Boulder Police Chief

­ 1 pm, July 16 at the Family Learning Center - Aaron Kennedy, Founder of Noodles & Company

­ 12 pm, July 17 at the Family Learning Center -Rick Sterling, President of the Sterling Rice Group

­ 12 pm, July 24 at the Family Learning Center - Susan Burks, President, Burks Communications

Make a Dish: Student teams will create a dish for the Walnut Cafe! Their recipes and food creations will be judged by local food experts, including representatives from the Walnut Cafe, and the winning recipe will be featured as a daily special. Recipes will be compiled into a cookbook that will be given to parents and community members as gifts.

· Interview & Photo opportunity: Food tasting reception at 4 pm on July 23 at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, 2440 Pearl St., Boulder, CO 80302-4632

Soap Box Derby: Students will work as teams of five to design and build a soapbox derby car and compete against each other in a Soapbox Derby Race. Teams will practice leadership skills, use critical, creative thinking and problem solving and financial literacy skills. Two cars will be donated to The Family Learning Center's Annual Pen Tate Awards Dinner and Auction and four cars will be raffled off to program participants. After the race, winning teams will be presented trophies and all participants will celebrate at our Soap Box Derby BBQ.

· Interview & Photo opportunity: Soap Box Derby Race at 1:30 pm, July 9 on the eastern lane of Meadowcross Lane (between Waterstone Drive and Westridge Drive) in the Waterstone Residential development. BBQ celebration to follow 2:30-4:30 pm.

About The Family Learning Center
Since 1981, the Family Learning Center has provided Boulder County's low-income, culturally diverse children and families with the lifelong tools necessary for self-sufficiency and success. The Center provides educational, crisis intervention, computer technology, college-prep and family support services for approximately 2,000 children and their families each year. For more information, please visit www.flcboulder.org.