DALLAS – April 5, 2011 – Five innovative organizations that focus on different aspects of local food issues have been selected to appear on the NOURISH 2011 Fast Pitch Stage during the June 16th bigBang! forum. The one-day event brings together innovative nonprofit groups, investors, socially conscious businesses, philanthropists, foundations and social entrepreneurs for maximum social impact.
These NOURISH innovators are at various stages of organizational development. An appearance on the bigBang! Fast Pitch stage will help the NOURISH innovators share their ideas with impact investors and donors from North Texas who are keen on funding new and different ways of doing good.
The newly selected NOURISH Innovators are:
Cafe Momentum – A seed stage idea that would create a restaurant connected to local farmers, producers and chefs. Cafe Momentum will employ those who seek a second chance in life. By learning all aspects of the food industry and apprenticing under local chefs and restaurateurs, Cafe Momentum will help drive economic development, provide pathways out of poverty and create market demand for fresh local foods.
The Movement – A for-profit business model, The Movement approaches health in a holistic way that drives a triple bottom line business. The entry level offering of The Movement is a fitness club, but clients find a much different experience that involves a more community focused approach to health that educates them about the importance of nutrition and quality fresh food. By creating a demand through co-op services and ready-made meals, The Movement is creating a regional market demand for farm fresh foods.
Dallas Farmers Market Trust – A group that is attempting to privatize the Dallas Farmers Market to preserve value and heritage of this cultural asset while ensuring that that a thriving Farmers Market continues to operate near downtown Dallas. Through a proposed private/public partnership that involves city, for-profit development and nonprofit programming, these leaders see an opportunity to revitalize a space around food, community and farmers.
Paul Quinn College – Food for Good Farm – The food needs of the college’s surrounding food community, officially classified as an “Urban Food Dessert,” led to the decision for Paul Quinn College to plow up the football field and turn it into a farm. This move transformed an existing underutilized resource and into something with new value of the community. Through its curriculum of sustainable agriculture and social entrepreneurship, this innovator is creating systemic change with a new generation of college students!
Sustainable Food Center – This Austin, Texas Innovator features a statewide vision for “Food Security”. Focused on seed-to-table education to help Texans grow their own food, access farmers and create healthy kitchens, they envision a way to connect quality fresh food to our families who have the least access. By replicating their programming throughout the state, they have a potential to grow a base of constituents that can help influence policy and ensure a bigger Texas vision for our food system.
The NOURISH Cause Track is chaired by Bob Wright, the founder of Dallas Social Venture Partners. DSVP is a charter member of Social Venture Partners International, a network of twenty-six social venture partnerships around the globe. Mr. Wright is also founding board member of SVPI and served as its president for three years, and continues as past president. He also serves on the board of the OneStar Foundation, co-authored a book, “The Little Green Book of Venture Philanthropy” and is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he teaches Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector. Bob is also an attorney in the software space.
The official Endorser of the NOURISH Cause Track is Slow Money Texas, an alliance that promotes investment in environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable food systems throughout the State of Texas.
Along with NOURISH, the bigBang! 2011 Pitch Stage will feature yet-to-be-selected Innovators from three additional Cause Tracks. EMPOWER (issues affecting women and girls), TEACH (initiatives impacting our citizens and their opportunity to learn), NOURISH (a mix of nonprofit and for profit ventures with an emphasis on local food) and SERVE (featuring North Texas’ most impactful Corporate Social Responsibility programs).
All of the innovators will receive expert coaching and will employ tactics from the world of venture capital fundraising to make sure their “ask” is on target and well-delivered so that it hits home with an audience that is ready to help them put their plans into motion.
Details:
bigBang! 2011
When: Thursday, June 16, 2011 9am – 5pm
Where: Union Station, 400 S. Houston St., Dallas, TX 75202
Who: Innovative nonprofit groups and socially conscious businesses, investors, philanthropists, foundations and social entrepreneurs
Why: 4 Causes + 20 Social Innovators x 1 Pitch Stage = Maximum Social Impact. bigBang! 2011 will offer a marketplace for individuals, foundations and businesses to window-shop and bump into the most innovative nonprofits and social entrepreneurs in our region creating an optimum environment for doing good in North Texas.
How to Attend: Visit http://www.bigbangtx.org/ to register and get more information.
About bigBANG!
bigBANG! is a forum hosted by Dallas Social Venture Partners that brings together innovative nonprofit groups, investors, socially conscious businesses, philanthropists, foundations and social entrepreneurs. bigBang! strives to create positive impact in the Dallas-area and beyond through networking and the sharing of ideas and experiences.
About DSVP
DSVP is a partnership of professionals, social entrepreneurs and foundations who are committed to strengthening our community through the thoughtful application of collective dollars and business expertise. DSVP is comprised of 123 partners and works with a current portfolio of nine nonprofit investments to create positive social impact. For additional information, please call (214) 855-5520 or visit http://www.dsvp.org/.
