Founders of RocksBox and Millennial Trains Project Discuss Entrepreneurship, Taking Risks to Start an Organization

Second Illuminate Event Features Young Entrepreneurs Talking About Bringing their Innovative Ideas to Life

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Illuminate, an S&R Foundation program devoted to convening innovative, courageous presenters to spark ideas and encourage polite debate amongst audience members, today announced its second event, Courageous Careers: Making Moves and Driving Change.

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The event will feature entrepreneurs Patrick Dowd and Meaghan Rose discussing the journey and risks they took to bring their business vision to life. Mr. Dowd is the CEO of the Millennial Trains Project, a 10-day transcontinental train journey offering opportunities for personal development through on-train seminars and workshops with local leaders, as the train makes its way across the country. Ms. Rose is the creator of RocksBox, a jewelry subscription service that lets women explore a variety of styles by sending them high-end jewelry samples each month.

"Patrick and Meaghan perfectly embody the Illuminate spirit – innovative, passionate and willing to take major risks to make their ideas come to life," said Dr. Sachiko Kuno, president and CEO of the S&R Foundation.

Prior to starting the Millennial Trains Project, Mr. Dowd was working as an investment-banking analyst for J.P. Morgan in New York. His inspiration to leave his position came from an annual train journey across India, Jagriti Yatra, that aims to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship within India's youth by exposing them to individuals and institutions that are developing unique solutions to the country's challenges. Mr. Dowd saw the need for a similar initiative in the U.S. and was inspired to bring this idea to life. He quit his job and set out to begin building what would become the Millennial Trains Project. Currently, Mr. Dowd is focused on launching the inaugural journey.

Ms. Rose was working as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company when she came up with the idea for a jewelry subscription service. Ms. Rose, a jewelry enthusiast, left her day job and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she gathered a group of investors and launched RocksBox. The startup is gaining momentum with San Francisco's young, female and professional audience.

Mr. Dowd and Ms. Rose's discussion will be at the Evermay estate on August 22, and will be available online following the event. Tickets for the event are $35 per person and available to the public. Please visit www.IlluminateSeries.org for additional information and to purchase tickets.

About the S&R Foundation
The S&R Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2000 to support talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in the sciences and arts, especially those who are furthering international cultural collaboration. Our goals are simple, yet bold: to create, support and facilitate initiatives that encourage scientific and artistic innovation, and promote cultural and personal growth. For more information, visit www.SandRFoundation.org.

About Illuminate
Illuminate serves as a 21st-century salon, where the audience can discuss and politely debate current topics and future trends. All of Illuminate's presenters are engaging, innovative and brave, leading enlightening lectures and discussions that will leave attendees with a spark of a new idea and hope for the future. Every Illuminate event will leave attendees with a spark of a new idea and hope for the future. All events are archived online so everyone can access, learn and share. For more information, visit http://illuminateseries.org/.

SOURCE S&R Foundation