Social Entrepreneurship Award

Social Entrepreneurship Award

Eastern Christian Receives Social Entrepreneurship Award

Eastern Christian School was awarded the 2011 Small Business Growth Success Award by the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers in a ceremony held on December 2 at Foresgate Country Club in Monroe Township, NJ.

Eastern Christian was recognized for its social entrepreneurship efforts in establishing its three supporting businesses, ditto Upscale Resale, Eagles Camps, and Eagle Solar, LLC. Eastern Christian's supporting businesses are expected to contribute approximately $300,000 to fund the school's core educational mission during the current academic year.

Eastern Christian was one of thirteen small businesses from across the state to be recognized at the event, out of a total of approximately 4000 small businesses that worked with the NJSDBC during the last year. Eastern Christian was nominated by the NJSBDC Center at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. The William Paterson SBDC Center provided business planning and marketing advice to Eastern Christian in the formation of ditto, Eagles Camps, and Eagle Solar.

As we accept this award, we gratefully acknowledge the fantastic support from within and outside of our school community that Eastern Christian has received in establishing its supporting businesses, including:

• The scores of community volunteers and Eastern Christian staff members who have given selflessly of their time and talents to make these businesses succeed. This award is testimony to their hard work, dedication and unfailing determination to sustain Christian education in Northern New Jersey for generations to come.

• The William Paterson University Center of NJSBDC which helped us to think through our business plans and provided expertise in areas such as marketing strategy and public relations.

• Business partners such as Atlantic Stewardship Bank, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, Sax Macy Fromm, Sun Farm Network, Visbeen Construction Company, and many others who helped us turn our plans into a reality.

• And, especially, a faithful God who continues to provide for Eastern Christian School in amazing new ways with every passing day.