Thought Leader Scholarships Encourage Diverse Participation in Unconventional Convention

GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Because great ideas know no socioeconomic boundaries, creativity and inspiration conference Food For Thought is providing 10 full scholarships to make this year's event accessible to a diverse pool of attendees.

The event, set for April 24-26, in Greenville, S.C., is limited to approximately 80 guests to maintain a high degree of intimacy and interactivity.  Food For Thought organizers offer Thought Leader Scholarships to allow budding entrepreneurs, academics, non-profit workers and public servants to participate without having to pay the $1,575 registration fee or travel costs.

"Food For Thought has always been about sharing great ideas," said event founder Joe Erwin, president of Greenville-based integrated marketing firm Erwin Penland.  "Having a diverse group of presenters and participants enhances the creative dynamic, and our Thought Leader Scholarships allow recipients to participate as equals with CEOs, accomplished professionals and other industry leaders."

Now in its fifth year, Food For Thought has a rich history of attracting dynamic, thought-provoking speakers including Ben & Jerry's co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield; Harlem Children's Zone creator Dr. Geoffrey Canada; Grammy nominee Five For Fighting; and Harvard Business School professor and author Rosabeth Kanter.

Presenters for the 2012 event include Tina Brown, current editor-in-chief at Newsweek and the leading voice of one of the country's most popular online news outlets The Daily Beast.  Brown is former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and is also known for her 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles.

Joining Brown on the agenda is former CEO of Verizon Wireless and former President and COO of Verizon Communications Denny Strigl who supervised the launch of the nation's first cellular telephone network and led Verizon Wireless to become America's largest and most successful telecommunications firm.  Strigl's new book Managers, Can You Hear Me Now? offers innovative strategies for tackling the challenge of global competition.  Additional presenters will be announced in February.

Scholarship candidates should apply at www.foodforthoughtconference.com/thought-leader-scholarships by Thursday, March 1.  Those selected to receive a scholarship will be notified no later than Thursday, March 15.

To learn more about Food For Thought, visit www.foodforthoughtconference.com.

About Food For Thought:
Food For Thought is a catalytic unconventional convention that celebrates the intersection of food, creative thinking, entrepreneurialism and social responsibility.  The three-day event, held annually in Greenville, S.C., brings together some of the country's leading entrepreneurs, innovators, chefs and thought leaders.  Founded by Joe Erwin, Food For Thought is a fully experiential event designed to inspire dialogue and debate among an intimate group of diverse attendees.  Activities range from panel discussions and impromptu think tanks to gourmet cooking and precision driving at the nearby BMW Performance Center.  Food for Thought is a creation of Erwin Penland, which operates offices in Greenville and New York.  For more information, visit www.foodforthoughtconference.com.

SOURCE Food For Thought