40 Chances Challenges Announced

OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Omaha's Bryan High School hosted the national launch of the 40 Chances Challenges Program as part of NFTE's 2013 World Series of Innovation (WSI). The 40 Chances Challenges Program offers young adults the opportunity to develop new and creative approaches for solving important food or nutrition related challenges in their community.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130829/NY70945LOGO)

The competition is open to all students ages eleven to twenty-three from across the country, who are invited to submit real-world solutions to critical food security challenges. Challenges can be found at http://40Chances.nfte.com/, and include four categories:

• Design a solution that reduces food waste,
• Improve nutritious food distribution networks,
• Increase healthy eating in your home and community, and
• Encourage and promote local food production.

One Grand Prize winning team per category will be chosen by popular vote through NFTE's online voting platform during Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 18 – 24).

"We are thrilled to work with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and 40 Chances as an opportunity to encourage youth to address real-world food-security issues, as part of NFTE's World Series of Innovation," said Amy Rosen, CEO and President of NFTE. "The initiative inspires ingenuity and fuels innovation among youth by empowering them to be global agents of change in their communities and beyond."

The 40 Chances Challenges Program was launched in coordination with the upcoming release of the book 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World by Howard G. Buffett. 40 Chances documents new approaches for combating hunger and poverty in the most difficult places on Earth, and it is co-authored by Howard W. Buffett with a foreword by Warren Buffett. "In our book 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World, we share our stories about food and poverty issues from around the world, and we challenge everyone to make the most of the limited chances we all have to accomplish our goals in life," said Howard G. Buffett.

At the event, Howard W. Buffett stated, "We are excited to launch the first of several new programs that build upon the themes and principles from 40 Chances. Partnering with NFTE and Bryan High School here in Omaha to launch our efforts is the perfect way to support new solutions to the world's food security challenges."

Bryan High School's Principal, Robert Aranda, announced that students enrolled in the school's Urban Agriculture and Nature Resources Career Academy were among the first to submit their innovations to the 40 Chances Challenge. "We're excited to have the young visionaries in our landmark agricultural program participate in the NFTE's World Series of Innovation and the challenges set forth by 40 Chances," said Principal Aranda. "It gives our students the opportunity to think creatively, apply what they've learned in the classroom, and provide effective solutions to real world agricultural concerns."

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
Too many young people today drop out of school, cannot find good jobs, and struggle to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has been inspiring young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life. By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to own their educations in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success. Hundreds of thousands of students have discovered opportunity all around them through entrepreneurship via thousands of certified educators worldwide. NFTE supports active programs in nineteen U.S. locations and thirteen countries around the world. Entrepreneurs are a powerful driver of economic growth and NFTE sows the seeds of innovation in students worldwide.

To learn more, visit www.nfte.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/NFTE or follow us on Twitter at @NFTE.

40 Chances and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation works to improve the quality of life for the world's most impoverished and marginalized populations – including nearly a billion individuals who lack basic food security. The Foundation has a deadline of 40 years, giving it just 40 chances to accomplish its goals and make a positive impact on the world. This story is told in the new book, 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World, which chronicles the Foundation's work, as well as Howard's journey around the world as he seeks out new approaches to combat hunger and poverty. The Foundation has also launched a series of innovative "40 Chances" programs, which provide market-based solutions for global food security challenges.

To learn more, visit www.40Chances.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/40Chances or follow us on Twitter at @40Chances.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa Miller
[email protected]
Phone: 1-973-615-1292

SOURCE Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship