Elevate Together® Celebrates Entrepreneurship Week and Second Year of Closing Racial Wealth Gap With $1.1M+ in Grants to Black- and Hispanic-Owned Small Businesses
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2023-- Elevate Together®, a nonprofit initiative founded by The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ:ODP) and powered by Round It Up America®, announced today in celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week that it has awarded $1,140,000 in cash grants to 189 Black- and Hispanic-owned small businesses in 2022. The announcement comes as the initiative concludes its second year of helping to close the racial wealth gap, and enters its third year of accelerating the creation, growth, and prosperity of Black and Hispanic-owned small businesses in communities across the U.S.
Launched by The ODP Corporation in early 2021, in collaboration with the National Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Centers and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), Elevate Together® delivers impactful and scalable support services that foster business creation and growth opportunities for Black and Hispanic small businesses with five or less employees. In addition to aid in the form of cash grants, products, and services, eligible small business owners gain access to educational workshops, training and mentorship services, professional networks, and more.
“Over the past year, we awarded 189 small business owners cash grants valued between $5,000 and $10,000, which they could use to innovate and grow their businesses in exciting ways,” said Gerry Smith, Chief Executive Officer for The ODP Corporation. “These cash grants have given Black and Hispanic business owners the funds they need to help grow their businesses. But we don’t just stop there. Elevate Together® pairs these entrepreneurs with certified mentors to help them succeed on their evolving business journeys.”
Investments from key partners continue to support Elevate Together® in its efforts to uplift Black and Hispanic small businesses and help foster equitable opportunities. The ODP Corporation makes an annual corporate gift to the initiative, in addition to associate and customer donations in Office Depot® OfficeMax® retail stores. Elevate Together® was further bolstered in 2022 by generous gifts from Chase for Business and the Taylor Corporation.
This support helped Elevate Together® expand from five to 11 U.S. markets in 2022, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and South Florida.
Also in 2022, the initiative presented Elevate Together Day, a first-of-its-kind, free virtual summit event in October. This “Day of Empowerment” for Black and Hispanic small business owners featured a keynote address by Latina CEO and entrepreneur Beatriz Acevedo, interactive speed-networking with national business professionals, and the Elevate Together $25K Challenge, a $25,000 fundraising effort to support Black- and Hispanic-owned small businesses.
“As a grant recipient, I cannot stress enough the importance of feeling seen and appreciated when selected for this grant opportunity,” said Nadeige Sterlin, owner of La Paix Bakery and an Elevate Together® grant recipient in South Florida. “Our team felt honored, and it helped to boost our confidence to work toward our long-term future plans of expanding to a second location.”
To learn more about Elevate Together® powered by Round It Up America, including how to participate as a small business or donate to the initiative to help drive change, please visit elevatetogether.org.
About Elevate Together®
Elevate Together® powered by Round It Up America is a nonprofit initiative designed to address systemic discrimination and historical racial disparities in business growth and profitability in Black and Hispanic communities. Through a partnership with the National Urban League and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the initiative delivers education, access and aid to Black and Hispanic small businesses. Founded by The ODP Corporation, Elevate Together® is supported by a coalition of like-minded companies with a mission to strengthen our local communities, foster job creation, and close the racial wealth gap. Learn more at elevatetogether.org.
About The ODP Corporation
The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ:ODP) is a leading provider of products and services through an integrated business-to-business (B2B) distribution platform and omnichannel presence, which includes world-class supply chain and distribution operations, dedicated sales professionals, a B2B digital procurement solution, online presence and a network of Office Depot and OfficeMax retail stores. Through its operating companies Office Depot, LLC; ODP Business Solutions, LLC; Veyer, LLC; and Varis, LLC, The ODP Corporation empowers every business, professional, and consumer to achieve more every day. For more information, visit theodpcorp.com.
ODP and ODP Business Solutions are trademarks of ODP Business Solutions, LLC. Office Depot is a trademark of The Office Club, Inc. OfficeMax is a trademark of OMX, Inc. Veyer is a trademark of Veyer, LLC. Varis is a trademark of Varis, LLC. Grand&Toy is a trademark of Grand & Toy, LLC in Canada. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
About Round It Up America®
Round It Up America (RIUA) is a non-profit organization that provides participating businesses, known as RIUA Mission Partners, the opportunity for customers to donate when paying their bill. RIUA Mission Partners select their own charities based on causes that are important to their organization, team members and customers. Companies around the country are making a difference through this powerful platform for charitable giving. For more information, please visit rounditupamerica.org.
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Jennifer Robins
Jennifer.Robins@theodpcorp.com
Swati Joshi
Swati.Joshi@theodpcorp.com
Source: The ODP Corporation
Elevate Together® Celebrates Black And Hispanic Businesses With ‘Day of Empowerment’ And $25k Fundraising Initiative
Boca Raton, FL (August 31, 2022) – ELEVATE TOGETHER®, a nonprofit initiative that addresses systemic discrimination and racial disparities in business, is celebrating Black and Hispanic small businesses with a series of digital initiatives this summer and fall, culminating in a “day of empowerment” and $25,000 fundraising effort on October 19, 2022. This exciting and impactful series dovetails with National Black Business Month (August) and Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), while supporting the Elevate Together mission of accelerating the creation, growth, and prosperity of Black and Hispanic businesses in communities across America.
“Through August and over the next few months, Elevate Together has been pulling out all the stops to celebrate, empower, and uplift Black and Hispanic businesses,” says Sharu Goodwyn, community investment manager for Office Depot. “One facet of our initiative is about awarding cash grants to Black and Hispanic small businesses, and we have been spotlighting our grant recipients from August through October. The excitement will culminate in Elevate Together Day, October 19, when our corporate and community partners, grant recipients, and Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses will come together to generate awareness and build support for this vital effort to level the playing field for minority-owned businesses.”
The ODP Corporation (founding partner of Elevate Together and parent company to Office Depot), established the nonprofit initiative in 2021 and helped to launch the program in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and South Florida. Since then, Elevate Together has continued to grow and impact businesses in more cities, expanding in 2022 to Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, and Phoenix.
During National Black Business Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, Elevate Together has recognized its Black-owned small business grant recipients on www.ElevateTogether.org and social media platforms each day in August, and will spotlight its Hispanic-owned small business grant recipients each day from September 15-October 15. Along the way, Elevate Together is building excitement and visibility for the initiative leading up to its special “day of empowerment” event.
The main Elevate Together Day event on October 19 will feature a virtual summit that includes a keynote address and an interactive round of speed networking with national business professionals. In addition, attendees will hear from grant recipients on their inspiring entrepreneurship journey and how Elevate Together has impacted their businesses.
Finally, the day of empowerment will align with the culmination of the organization’s $25,000 fundraising initiative: the Elevate Together $25K Challenge. In the months and weeks leading up to Elevate Together Day, the organization’s corporate and community partners will help to promote public and employee giving for the challenge. Funds raised will help Elevate Together continue to support minority-owned businesses through cash grants, mentoring, and other initiatives designed to empower and accelerate Black and Hispanic business success.
“Elevate Together helped us bounce back from a devastating warehouse fire that destroyed most of our inventory,” says Ruchama Jean Baptiste, owner of Lavie Scrubs. “I am proud to say that we not only recovered, but also transformed our office into a professional and productive workspace—thanks to the generous donation of furniture and office supplies from Elevate Together.”
For more information about Elevate Together Day, the Elevate Together $25K Challenge, and more, contact Sharu Goodwyn, community investment manager for Office Depot at sharu.goodwyn@officedepot.com or 917.501.2024.
ABOUT ELEVATE TOGETHER
Elevate Together® powered by Round It Up America® is a non-profit initiative designed to address systemic discrimination and historical racial disparities in business growth and profitability in Black and Hispanic communities. Through a partnership with the National Urban League and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the initiative delivers education, access and aid to Black and Hispanic small businesses. Founded by The ODP Corporation, Elevate Together® is supported by a coalition of like-minded companies with a mission to strengthen our local communities, foster job creation, and close the racial wealth gap. Learn more at www.elevatetogether.org.
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Our expertise with diverse markets allows our clients to stand out and reach target audiences including the important Hispanic, African-American, and Caribbean consumers with the right media and the right message.
We have more than 160 years of combined experience, serving our clients with the unique approach of combining traditional marketing, advertising, and public relations with digital media and grassroots community outreach.
Elevate Together™ Initiative Recommits to Supporting Small Business Growth in 2022 and Welcomes JPMorgan Chase as Newest Contributor
WASHINGTON, D.C. – JPMorgan Chase has joined with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and The ODP Corporation to collaboratively continue to propel small businesses forward through Elevate Together™ – a nonprofit initiative designed to accelerate the creation, growth, and prosperity of Black and Hispanic small businesses. The program is powered by Round It Up America® and is now in its second year.
Now, with support from JPMorgan Chase, the newest corporate contributor to the Elevate Together™ initiative, Hispanic- and Latino-owned small businesses can gain access to free virtual and in-person business education workshops in 2022 as well as available tools delivered through Elevate Together University and locally by USHCC affiliates. Participating small businesses can expect to receive coaching and business growth resources, and learn more about navigating cash flow, understanding capital and growing their digital presence. This initiative also complements JPMorgan Chase’s long-standing supplier diversity program by fostering the success of Hispanic-owned companies.
Elevate Together™ was launched in 2021 by founding corporate partner, The ODP Corporation, in collaboration with the USHCC and National Urban League to address systemic discrimination and historical racial disparities in business growth and profitability in Hispanic and Black communities. The program kicked off in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and South Florida and will expand this year to provide support in Dallas, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix.
Black and Hispanic small businesses looking for additional resources to strengthen their businesses are also invited to apply for a cash grant through Elevate Together™ in association with their local participating Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
The following chambers of commerce are Elevate Together™ partners and provide bilingual technical assistance and mentoring services at no cost to small businesses:
- Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Latino Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota
- Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce
- Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Palm Beach County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“Hispanic- and minority-owned small businesses are the job creators and the backbone of the American economy. Through Elevate Together™, we are proud to be able to provide hands-on, much needed resources to foster economic development and build sustainable prosperity,” said Ramiro A. Cavazos, President and Chief Executive Officer for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to continue growing this initiative with our partners at JPMorgan Chase, alongside the champions at The ODP Corporation, and we look forward to expanding our services and reach to support America’s diverse small business owners through our network of chambers during this time of economic recovery.”
“Providing Hispanic and Latino small business owners with helpful tools to succeed and make a real difference in our communities is core to our mission” said Silvana Montenegro, Global Head of Advancing Hispanics & Latinos at JPMorgan Chase. “That’s why we’re proud to join the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The ODP Corporation in the Elevate Together™ initiative powered by Round It Up America.”
“We are delighted to have JPMorgan Chase on board to help us expand our reach into new markets and connect even more small businesses with education, access and aid through Elevate Together™,” said Alex Price, National Director of Community Investment for Office Depot. “We’re excited for this initiative to continue to evolve into a coalition of like-minded companies with a desire to foster business creation and growth opportunities for Black- and Hispanic-owned small businesses nationwide.”
Registration is currently open for upcoming Elevate Together University workshops, with the first session scheduled to kick off virtually on Tuesday, April 5 (https://elevatetogether.org/university/). For more information on Elevate Together™, visit elevatetogether.org or click here to register for an upcoming Elevate Together University workshop.
Questions may be submitted to press@ushcc.com.
About the USHCC
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that combined, contribute over $800 billion to the American economy every year. The USHCC is America's largest small business advocacy group, representing more than 260 local chambers and business associations nationwide, and also partners with hundreds of major American corporations. For more information, please visit ushcc.com. Follow us on Twitter @USHCC.
About Elevate Together™
Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America® is a nonprofit initiative designed to address systemic discrimination and historical racial disparities in business growth and profitability in Black and Hispanic communities. Through a partnership with the National Urban League and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the initiative delivers education, access and aid to Black and Hispanic small businesses. Founded by The ODP Corporation, Elevate Together™ is supported by a coalition of like-minded companies with a mission to strengthen local communities, foster job creation, and close the racial wealth gap. Learn more at www.elevatetogether.org.
About The ODP Corporation
The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ:ODP) is a leading provider of business services and supplies, products and digital workplace technology solutions to small, medium and enterprise businesses, through an integrated business-to-business (B2B) distribution platform, which includes world-class supply chain and distribution operations, dedicated sales professionals and technicians, online presence, and approximately 1,000 stores. Through its banner brands Office Depot®, OfficeMax®, ODP Business Solutions™, Varis™ and Grand&Toy®, as well as others, the company offers its customers the tools and resources they need to focus on their passion of starting, growing and running their business. For more information, visit news.theodpcorp.com and investor.theodpcorp.com.
ODP, ODP Business Solutions, and Office Depot are trademarks of The Office Club, Inc. OfficeMax is a trademark of OMX, Inc. Varis is a trademark of Varis, LLC. Grand&Toy is a trademark of Grand & Toy, LLC in Canada. ©2022 Office Depot, LLC. All rights reserved. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase had $3.7 trillion in assets and $294.1 billion in stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2021. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S. and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
The ODP Corporation Launches Nonprofit Initiative to Help Accelerate the Creation, Growth and Prosperity of Minority-Owned Small Businesses
The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading provider of business services, products and digital workplace technology solutions through an integrated B2B distribution platform, today announced the launch of Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America®, a new nonprofit initiative designed to help accelerate the creation, growth and prosperity of Black and Hispanic-owned small businesses.
By: Danny Jovic via The ODP Corporation
Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America® will connect Black and Hispanic small business owners with education, access and aid in collaboration with the National Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Centers and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2021-- The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading provider of business services, products and digital workplace technology solutions through an integrated B2B distribution platform, today announced the launch of Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America®, a new nonprofit initiative designed to help accelerate the creation, growth and prosperity of Black and Hispanic-owned small businesses.
In collaboration with the National Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Centers and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), Elevate Together™ will help to deliver impactful, measurable and scalable support services that foster business creation and growth opportunities for Black and Hispanic small businesses with five or less employees. As part of this initiative, eligible small business owners will gain access to educational workshops, training and mentorship services, professional networks and more. Businesses may also be eligible to receive aid in the form of cash grants, products and services.
“We strongly believe that in a society where the playing field is level, Black and Hispanic small businesses will play a vital role in restoring the health of our economy and in driving long-term wealth creation across North America,” said Gerry Smith, chief executive officer for The ODP Corporation. “With support from our associates, customers, community partners and other like-minded corporations, we hope to continue to foster new opportunities for minority-owned small businesses, to help them prosper and get the resources they need to better compete in today’s marketplace.”
In keeping with its longstanding history of serving local community businesses and as the founding partner of Elevate Together™, The ODP Corporation is proud to pledge an initial investment of $250,000, which will help to launch the initiative in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and South Florida.
“Small businesses are key to job creation, and through the work of the National Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Centers Program, current and prospective entrepreneurs in underserved communities across the country are being empowered to establish new ventures every day,” said Marc H. Morial, president and chief executive officer for the National Urban League. “This partnership with Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America® will help us provide additional services that will impact and improve the lives of many Black business owners for years to come.”
According to a recent survey from the National Association for Business Economics, 73% of surveyed forecasters believe that the economy will not return to its pre-pandemic level until the second half of 2021. To help strengthen local communities and foster job creation during this challenging time, it is now more important than ever to provide minority-owned small businesses with access to essential business resources and direct financial investments.
“At the USHCC, we are proud to advocate for Hispanic-owned businesses to foster economic development and build sustainable prosperity for our American economy,” said Ramiro A. Cavazos, president and chief executive officer for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to help launch this new initiative, championed by The ODP Corporation, and look forward to expanding our services and reach to support America’s diverse small business owners through our network of chambers during this time of economic recovery.”
Individuals interested in helping to elevate minority-owned businesses through this initiative can make a donation to Elevate Together™ at their nearest Office Depot or OfficeMax store and at checkout on officedepot.com.
For more information about Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America®, including how to participate as a minority-owned small business or get involved as a corporate donor, visit ElevateTogether.org.
About The ODP Corporation
The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ:ODP) is a leading provider of business services and supplies, products and digital workplace technology solutions to small, medium and enterprise businesses, through an integrated business-to-business (B2B) distribution platform, which includes world-class supply chain and distribution operations, dedicated sales professionals and technicians, online presence, and approximately 1,200 stores. Through its banner brands Office Depot®, OfficeMax®, CompuCom® and Grand&Toy®, as well as others, the company offers its customers the tools and resources they need to focus on their passion of starting, growing and running their business. For more information, visit news.theodpcorp.com and investor.theodpcorp.com.
The ODP Corporation and Office Depot are trademarks of The Office Club, Inc. OfficeMax is a trademark of OMX, Inc. CompuCom is a trademark of CompuCom Systems, Inc. Grand&Toy is a trademark of Grand & Toy, LLC in Canada. ©2021 Office Depot, LLC. All rights reserved. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
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NCR Supporting Restaurant Recovery with Donation to Elevate Together™
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a leading enterprise technology provider, today announced a donation of $200,000 to Elevate Together™, a nonprofit initiative designed to create growth and prosperity for Black and Hispanic communities. The donation was made by the NCR Foundation, a founding partner of Elevate Together, which is powered by Round It Up America® (RIUA). NCR’s donation is being used to award cash grants to minority-owned businesses in the Atlanta region.
By: Anne O’Neill via ncr.com
ATLANTA – August 16, 2021 – NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a leading enterprise technology provider, today announced a donation of $200,000 to Elevate Together™, a nonprofit initiative designed to create growth and prosperity for Black and Hispanic communities.
The donation was made by the NCR Foundation, a founding partner of Elevate Together, which is powered by Round It Up America® (RIUA). NCR’s donation is being used to award cash grants to minority-owned businesses in the Atlanta region.
“We want to do what we can to support the restaurant industry as it finds its footing after a difficult year,” said Dirk Izzo, president and general manager, NCR Hospitality. “We are honored to collaborate with Elevate Together and Round It Up America to support the hospitality industry.”
“We are very excited and honored to have the NCR Foundation as a founding partner for Elevate Together,” said Michelle McCarthy, executive director of RIUA. “NCR was our first point of sale partner and has been instrumental in supporting charitable causes for over 10 years.”
The NCR Aloha POS platform enables restaurant customers to donate to Round It Up America (RIUA) charities by selecting “Round It Up” when paying their bill. The total amount is automatically increased to the nearest dollar, with the difference going to the restaurant’s chosen charity. Since 2009, more than $5 million has been donated to nonprofit organizations through NCR’s platform.
NCR is a full end-to-end provider from order creation to payment settlement that brings together software, services and hardware — trusted by more than 100,000 restaurants, including independent operators, domestic chains and international brands across the globe. NCR’s comprehensive offering includes the signature NCR Aloha POS platform, providing everything restaurants need to run their business, boost efficiency and increase growth.
To learn more about Elevate Together™ powered by Round It Up America®, including how to participate as a minority-owned small business, visit ElevateTogether.org.
About Round It Up America®
Round It Up America (RIUA) is a non-profit organization that provides participating businesses, known as RIUA Mission Partners, the opportunity for customers to donate when paying their bill. RIUA Mission Partners select their own charities based on causes that are important to their organization, team members and customers. Companies around the country are making a difference through this powerful platform for charitable giving. For more information please visit www.rounditupamerica.org.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading software- and services-led enterprise provider in the financial, retail and hospitality industries. NCR is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with 36,000 employees globally. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.
