Deluxe Corporation Foundation Supports Development of SCORE's Small Business Mentors

Lifelong Learning Partnership to Improve Service to Small Business Owners

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Mar 10, 2015, 09:10 ET

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, SCORE, – www.score.org – mentors to America's small businesses, announces a continued partnership with The Deluxe Corporation Foundation. The partnership includes a $500,000 grant to support the training and development of more than 11,000 SCORE volunteer mentors.

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Lifelong Learning Partnership
The Deluxe Corporation Foundation grant supports SLATE 2.0, a re-launch and build-out of SCORE's innovative program to orient and train volunteers. SLATE is an acronym representing SCORE's mentoring methodology of:

Stop & Suspend Judgment
Listen & Learn
Assess & Analyze
Test Ideas & Teach with Tools
Expectations Setting & Encouraging the Dream

The grant will help the SLATE program evolve from a step-by-step process for new mentors to a platform for certifying all mentors in small business subject areas. SCORE mentors will gain expertise in areas such as finance and marketing as well as in diversity, client services, and volunteer development. This renewed partnership builds on Deluxe Corporation Foundation's support to launch and build the initial SLATE program.

As the founder and exclusive sponsor of SLATE and SLATE 2.0, Deluxe has granted more than $1.5 million for various programs to ensure small businesses across the country receive ongoing counsel and advice from SCORE mentors. This latest grant will make it possible for SCORE clients to receive the quality SLATE 2.0 curriculum through the SCORE Email Mentoring Platform, powered by Deluxe.

"The quality and training of SCORE volunteers is the primary driver of the quality of SCORE's service delivery across the US," added David R. Bobbitt, President of the SCORE Foundation. "We are so grateful to Deluxe for stepping forward yet again to share their expertise and resources to ensure that SCORE mentors are the best available, in every community across the United States."

"Small businesses are essential to their communities, all across the nation," said Lee Schram, chief executive officer of Deluxe Corporation. "At Deluxe, we work with small businesses every day, helping them grow and thrive, so we are thrilled to continue this partnership with SCORE to provide volunteers with key training and industry expertise. This donation reflects the Deluxe Corporation Foundation's commitment to SCORE's ongoing efforts to build the skills of mentors who help support America's small businesses."

About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 10 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring, workshops and education to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. More than 11,000 business experts volunteer as mentors in over 320 chapters serving local communities with entrepreneur education.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans and www.twitter.com/SCOREMentors.

About the Deluxe Corporation Foundation

The Deluxe Corporation Foundation is a grant-giving institution that has partnered with educational, cultural and human service nonprofit organizations for more than 60 years to enrich the communities of Deluxe Corporation employees. An independent 501(c)(3) organization, the Deluxe Corporation Foundation has received funding from Deluxe Corporation to support its mission of giving back to the communities it serves.

About Deluxe

Deluxe Corp. is a growth engine for small businesses and financial institutions. Nearly 4.6 million small business customers access Deluxe's wide range of products and services, including customized checks and forms, as well as website development and hosting, email marketing, search engine optimization and logo design. For our approximately 5,600 financial institution customers, Deluxe offers industry-leading programs in checks, customer acquisition, rewards, fraud prevention and profitability. Deluxe is also a leading provider of checks and accessories sold directly to consumers. For more information, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp or www.twitter.com/deluxecorp.

Contact Information
Aliana Marino
800/634-0245
[email protected]

SOURCE SCORE