USA's Belmont University Named Enactus World Cup 2012 Champion

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Enactus World Cup 2012, where more than 3,000 students, educators and business leaders converged, Belmont University was named champion from an initial field of national champion university teams representing 38 countries. (www.enactus.org)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121003/PH86276 )

Through Enactus, students around the world are discovering that creating progress through entrepreneurial action can be accomplished throughout university and career. More than 500 global business leaders assembled at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center September 30 - October 2 to evaluate the outreach projects of the national champion teams, judging how successfully they've used business solutions to create economic opportunity for others.

Among the award-winning outreach projects conducted by the Belmont Enactus team was Spring Back Recycling (http://www.springbackrecycling.com/), a non-profit that was formed to break down mattresses and build up lives. Formed in 2011 as a partnership between the Enactus team and Belmont Church, Spring Back provides sustainable employment and small business training for formerly homeless or incarcerated men while striving to protect the environment by offering retailers, institutions, and consumers an economical alternative to dumping used mattresses in landfills. By recycling 100% of each of more than 15,000 mattresses, Spring Back has diverted 550,000 pounds of solid waste from landfills.

"Enactus is a breakthrough in higher education that inspires university students from around the globe to create innovative solutions that tackle real-world problems," says Doug McMillon, President & CEO, Walmart International and member of the Enactus board. "These incredible students are paving the way for the next generation of socially responsible business leaders who understand that sustainable business solutions are a tool for positive change."

The Enactus World Cup 2012 marked the first time the U.S. Department of State has partnered on the event; KPMG was the presenting sponsor.

About Enactus
Enactus is an international non-profit organization that brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, the 57,000 student leaders of Enactus create and implement 6,500 community empowerment projects in 39 countries each year. The experience not only transforms lives, it helps students develop the kind of talent and perspective that are essential to leadership in an ever-more complicated and challenging world. For more information, contact Enactus World Headquarters at 417-831-9505 or visit www.enactus.org.

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SOURCE Enactus