Wynnewood 12 Year Old Wins 'Stellar Startup' Award: Report

WYNNEWOOD, PA – A young woman from Wynnewood has earned quite the honor for her unique business that couples sustainability and charity.

Anna Welsh, 12, of Wynnewood, won a Stellar Startup award from the Franklin Institute for her business Littlebags BigImpact.

Welsh, a student Welsh Valley Middle School, won the award in the student category of the Stellar Startup awards.

With Littlebags Bigimpact, Welsh merges her passion for sewing, education, the environment by making clutch bags out of recycled materials and then donates a portion of her sales to Tree House Books, a giving library and literacy center in North Philadelphia.

Here is what the budding entrepreneur and philanthropist has to say about her business:

At littlebags.BIGIMPACT, I am passionate about creating beautiful things that are functional.

To combine my love for sewing, education and the environment, I decided to start a business that incorporates all of those aspects. The journey has been incredibly fantastic. I have found inspiration and support from everyone around me.
What has driven me has been my intricate eye for design and creativity. Making something from nothing is what I've lived by and continue to spread out to the world through my bags.

Who would have thought from the beginning that my dream would turn into a reality?

"I’m clearly thrilled to be a winner," Welsh told Philly.com. "I definitely want to see where I can take this.”

You can check out Welsh's clutch bags on her website her.

Congratulations, Anna!

Patch file photo