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GROW Student Wins Big in Grant Competition!
 
  The winners of Whirlpool's annual "Mother of Invention" grant competition have been announced, and Erika Berry, graduate of GROW's inaugural "Business Plan Boot Camp" summer class, won 2nd place in the "Green" category, which is new this year!  As the 2nd place winner, Erika Berry takes home a new Whirlpool refrigerator and $5000!  Erika's invention is a small egg-shaped container that fits directly on the leash that stores dog waste bags (such as grocery bags that you "re-use," thereby helping the environment).   The ClipCleany™ also has a wet chamber to carry wipes and a dry chamber for money or dog treats.

Erika competed against approximately 2200 applicants, 550 of whom were also competing in the "green" category. Whirlpool has invited Erika and the other 4 winners to a Whirlpool "business boot camp" in October at their headquarters in Benton Harbor.  The following week, she'll be speaking at GROW's annual fundraiser, the "Seeds of GROWth" luncheon (on Tuesday, October 21st!  If you'd like to attend and learn more about GROW, please RSVP to Deborah Roberts-Hanshue, Development Director, at 616.458.3404).

In case you can't make it to our fundraising luncheon, here's a "taste" of what Erika has to say about her recent success: "I won this contest because of GROW, where I learned of the contest.  GROW is a safe place for me to learn and take a chance on my idea.  I decided that I would try their summer Business Plan Boot Camp and that having the contest deadline (the day after the 4-week program ended) would keep me on track with writing my business plan.  Denise Miller and Rob Steketee are so smart, encouraging, and warm.  They helped me write my business plan by reading and critiquing both my plan and my application for Whirlpool's "Mother of Invention" Contest.    I also enjoyed the women in the class; their different points of view, goals, and experiences made the classes very interesting. Thanks to Denise and Rob, the ladies in my class, and GROW I am enjoying huge professional and personal success!"

We hope that YOU are as excited as we are to have been a part of Erika's success.  Remember, good things happen to those who "GROW" with us!