StreetShares Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Announce Three Veteran Small Business Award Recipients, Awarding $10,000

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The StreetShares Foundation announced today three winners of its monthly Veteran Small Business Awards. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has partnered with the StreetShares Foundation to provide the top three winners with awards of $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

December Winners

First: Chris Dyer, Marine Corps Veteran and Owner, Grunts Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream (Mason, Texas)

Second: Amy Crispino, military spouse and Co-owner, Chameleon Kids (Clarksville, Tenn.)

Third: Melissa Washington, Navy Veteran and Founder, Women Veterans Alliance (Sacramento, Calif.)

"We're thrilled with the response our educational materials have received in the military and Veteran business community," said Mark L. Rockefeller, StreetShares Foundation Director. "The ability to award a few entrepreneurs with monetary prizes is icing on the cake."

More than 450 military-community small business owners have engaged with the Foundation's educational content, and 58 applied. The Foundation selected 10 finalists based on a scaled score, considering his/her: business idea, product-market fit, use of funds, team, mass appeal, and influence on the military community. A public vote determined the three winners.

About the Winners

The first place winner, Chris Dyer owns Grunts Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream, based in Mason, Texas, a town with approximately 2,500 residents. The Marine Corps Veteran opened an ice cream shop to bring the military-community feeling to Mason.

"Mason is a really neat small town and we're having so much fun with our new military-themed ice cream shop.  Winning this award is a great opportunity to give back to the Veteran community," Dyer said.

The second place winner, Amy Crispino co-owner of Chameleon Kids, runs a magazine called, Military Kids Life. Military families share their stories about being deployed in a positive way. Crispino, 17-year military spouse, plans to use the funds to fuel the Military Kids Report, where children report on stories around the world.

The third place winner, Melissa Washington, founder of Women Veterans Alliance, created a community where women Veterans can turn to for resources including professional development and entrepreneurship. The Navy Veteran will use her funds to develop the Women Veterans Exchange, a directory of women Veteran-owned businesses.

Three more awards will be given in January. Small businesses owned by military veterans, current reserve, active duty members, and qualified military spouses are eligible to apply. For more information, visit StreetShares.com/Foundation.

CONTACT: Shauna Vo Pulayya, 347-330-4104, [email protected]

SOURCE StreetShares, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.streetshares.com