Kids Dream Big At South Suburban Youth Entrepreneur Fair

PALOS HILLS, IL — The only thing wrong with the Youth Entrepreneur Fair last Saturday at Moraine Valley Community College was that none of the “celebrity judges” brought enough money to spend at the colorful, kid-owned pop-up shops.

Organized by Pet City, the Arab American Business and Professional Association, the Acton Children’s Business Fair, and Moraine Valley Community College, elementary and middle school students across the south suburbs were given the chance to create and launch their own businesses.

The concept was created by Laura and Jeff Sandefer, of Autin, Texas, who wanted to spark an interest in entrepreneurship in their own children. The first Acton Children’s Business Fair took place in Austin in 2007. Today, there are more than 250 affiliate Acton schools in in 31 states and 25 countries, serving as one-room schoolhouses for the 21st century.

Children who wish to organize a business fair with their own classmates and friends have to submit a video-taped statement on why they want to host an event, to be approved by Acton. Once approved, Acton provides a kit where a parent and child can start working on their event. Some kids are old pros taking their brands to other Acton fairs in their region.

Dr. Sundus McCarthy, of Orland Park, and her 11-year-old twin daughters, Joori and Heyam, made the pitch to hold a youth entrepreneur fair at Moraine Valley Community College after participating at similar events in Frankfort and Homer Glen. Her daughters started Pet City, a pet-sitting service.

“They’ve taken care of four dogs in our home, which is better than sitting in a cage,” McCarthy said. “We have a fenced-in yard. The dogs get to play with the kids.”

McCarthy teamed up with Rush Darwish, president of the Arab American Business and Professional Association, whom she knew from past community projects, in organizing the event. Moraine Valley and Acton sponsored the fair.

It was evident by the more than 60 young entrepreneurs running 42 businesses had worked incredibly hard preparing for Saturday’s fair – crocheting, stringing beads, balloon twisting, churning out lip balm, painting concrete sculpture, crafting and baking. A proud father told us that his son had spent the entire week cooking “choco bombs” in the family kitchen.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout and support from the community and judges,” McCarthy said. “We had a lot of variety and diversity. Just seeing those kids shine on Saturday, it warmed my heart. Everyone thought it was an amazing idea. It builds confidence.”

Students were split into age groups and were judged on most original business idea, highest business potential and best presentation/creativity. The students made money, with the winners in each category receiving $100 gift cards, including:

Age Group 6-7

• Highest Business Potential – Danya’s Scented Creations, Danya Rafati (Prairie Elementary School, Orland Park)
• Best presentation/creativity - Dayla’s Dazzling, Dayla Rangel

Age Group 8-10

• Most Original Business Idea- Art on the Cart, Idha Malhotra (Nancy Young Elementary School, Aurora)
• Highest Business Potential – Leo’s Gift Shop, Leo Pan (Robert Healy Elementary, Chicago)
• Best Presentation/ Creativity – Happy Balloons, Shuayb Hameed (Homeschool)

Age Group 11-12

• Most Original Business Idea – Beads by _Celine, Celine Aldoh (Hadley Middle School, Homer Glen) and Leen Aldoh (Luther J Schilling School, Homer Glen)
• Highest Business Potential – Smiley Customs, Nina Rivera (Century Junior High, Orland Park) and Ava Marusarz (Hadley Middle School, Homer Glen)
• Best Presentation/Creativity – Macie Makes, Macie Samek (Murphy Middle School, Plainfield)

Age Group Over 13

• Most Original Idea – Sister’s Concrete Creations, Alyssa Lewis, Samantha Lewis, and Annabella Kerkstra (Jack Hille Middle School, Oak Forest)
• Highest Business Potential – The Bracelet Boutique, Jenna Ayyad (Palos East Elementary, Palos Heights) and Saja Ayyad (Palos South Middle School, Palos Park )
• Best prestation/creativity – Dipped in Divine, Heba Radwan (Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, Palos Hills)

Heyam and Joori McCarthy also received a special award for co-hosting the children’s business fair and for their hard work and dedication.

Interested in participating or organizing a children's business fair in your community? Visit Acton Children's Business Fair for more info.