1. education
2. school

March 7, 2015
March 7, 2015
FROM OUR FOUNDER AND CEO
On behalf of the BUILD family, it is my great
pleasure to welcome you to the 5th Annual
BUILD Gala! Tonight is a celebration of the
power of entrepreneurship and we are thrilled
to be recognizing Nick Woodman, Founder
and CEO of GoPro, whose entrepreneurial
spirit and passion have inspired us.
15 years ago, I had the opportunity to help
four young men start a business. But before
I agreed to help, I asked them to commit to
stay in high school and graduate. And they
did. It was then I realized the power of entrepreneurship to engage students; those who
would otherwise drop out of school and face a life of tragically diminished potential.
500,000 students drop out of high school every year and too many graduate high
school unprepared for the world of work. Since those four young men approached me,
BUILD has become a model for the power that experiential, entrepreneurship-based
education can have on ending our nation’s drop-out crisis.
BUILD has grown from serving four students annually to serving close to 1,500 this year;
from partnering with one school to partnering with 23 annually; and from working in
one city to now working in five cities. 97% of students completing the BUILD program
graduate from high school and 98% are accepted to college.
But that is just the beginning; if I’ve learned anything over the past 15 years it is that we
can and must do more. BUILD will increase the impact we have on our students, expand
our direct service model and in the process become a catalyst for wide-spread change
in how this country educates all children.
Thank you for your interest in BUILD. We sincerely hope you join our exciting and
important movement, and we look forward to partnering with you in the future.
Have a wonderful evening!
Yours, in BUILDing,
Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, Esq.
EVENING PROGRAM
What is BUILD?
Welcome
Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, Esq.
Founder and CEO, BUILD
Hero Video
“Pitch” Prize for Innovation in Entrepreneurship*
Nick Woodman
Founder and CEO, GoPro
Exclusive Live Auction
BUILD Student Reflection
BUILD Alumni Reflection
Fund-A-Future
Cocktails + Music + Lounge
*Named after Franklin “Pitch” Johnson. Franklin and his wife, Cathie,
are one of BUILD’s original investors.
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TONIGHT’S HONOREE
2015 Recipient of the “Pitch” Prize
for Innovation in Entrepreneurship
NICK WOODMAN
Nick Woodman is the Founder and CEO of GoPro, the company that
singlehandedly created the action video camera market. On an around-theworld trip in 2001, Woodman discovered that surfers needed an affordable
photography option for capturing their rides. Founded with the mission of
creating a portable, reasonably-priced camera to capture and share life’s most
exciting moments, GoPro is now synonymous with action sports. Millions of
consumers, athletes and video production professionals turn to GoPro’s gearmountable cameras—so much so that in 2013, more than 2.8 years of video
containing “GoPro” in the title was uploaded to YouTube.
Nick lives in Woodside, California with his wife Jill and their three young children.
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OUR AUCTIONEER
ABRA ANNES
Abra Annes is one of California’s preeminent fundraising auctioneers and
special appeal/fund-a-need experts. Combining over 10 years in the
entertainment business with a background in professional fundraising, Abra
has traveled the world entertaining crowds of up to 1,500 people. She
holds a B.S. from Northwestern University and has earned the prestigious
Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designation from the National Auctioneers
Association—currently held by only 20 auctioneers in California. Abra joined
California’s premier benefit auction firm, KLM Auctions, in 2013.
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STUDENT SPEAKER
GERALDINE BOLDEN
CLASS OF 2015
Geraldine Bolden is from the District of Columbia and attends Maya Angelou
Public Charter School. She took classes at Barnard College last summer and is
currently applying to colleges for next fall. Geraldine aspires to open her own
mental research clinic for women, men and youth. In her free time she enjoys
reading, music, singing and composing short stories, novels and poetry. Geraldine
is a graduating senior and the COO of Tasty Treats.
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ALUMNI SPEAKER
JAHVITA RASTAFARI
CLASS OF 2006
Jahvita is the Social Media Manager at Act-On Software. She engages with
customers and influencers on a daily basis through all social channels, and
develops creative ways to engage with audiences. Following her graduation
from Johnson and Wales University, Jahvita worked at BUILD for two years as the
Development Assistant and then Community Manager. Jahvita spends her free time
indulging in as many carbs as possible – a true foodie at heart. Although fashion
has always been an interest from the time Jahvita had an allowance to hit up her
favorite shops, her most cherished moments are spent chasing her two year old.
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FEATURED STUDENT TEAMS
Our product is a hand crafted
wallet made from duct tape and
cardboard. Each wallet is made
with a unique design and is able
to open from both sides.
Our product is colorful, unique,
and self-expressing hair bows
and ties.
Our product is organic body
and lip scrubs that exfoliate and
hydrate skin by removing dead
skin cells.
The sneakybear is a wonderful
way to cuddle with a friend
while keeping your privacy!
Our product is a stuffed animal
that has a “sneaky pouch”
hand-sewn inside with a zipper
inclusure to keep your things
safe. We offer a variety of
animals so you can choose your
favorite friend!
The Smart Caselets offer a
variety of one-of-a-kind
products made from uprecycled ties. The original
“caselet” is a wallet/phone
case with the option of a stylish
wristlet. We also hand-craft
matching headbands, belts,
and bows to complete your
smart look. “Tie it together!”
CliQue Jewelry is the fashion
statement of the year with edgy
hand-made designs that will suit
any style. Our silver and gold
rings can be worn individually
or stacked for flirty flair. Our
colorful necklaces and earrings
are unique and fashion forward.
Be part of our CLIQUE!
Balm Lips sells all natural, homemade lip balms to provide a
high-quality, yet affordable
moisturizer for people in our
community. We offer two sizes,
the Teeny Tiny tubes and Twisty
Tubes. Balm Lips moisturizer
comes in a variety of flavors.
Tropico focuses on producing
flower crowns for any individual
who feels like adding a
natural look to their daily outfit.
Perfect for any occasion and
completely affordable!
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The GO Sports Bag is a quality
drawstring backpack that
includes an eco-friendly water
bottle, UV resistant sunglasses,
headphones, and a terry cloth
towel – perfect for the gym and
ready to take on any adventure!
MENU
Dinner presented by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering
First Course
Marinated Local Beets
Grapefruit, radish, Pt. Reyes blue cheese, orange oil, hazelnut essence
Entrée
Smoked New York Strip
Crisp greens, celery root puree, balsamic tomato confit, tobacco onions
Dessert
Chocolate Butterscotch Trifle
Layers of chocolate toffee crumbs, butterscotch pudding and
vanilla bean whipped cream
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SPECIAL THANKS
CO-CHAIR COMMITTEE
Kate + Ajay Agarwal
BUILD ANGEL
INVESTORS
Gayle + Ron Conway
Kate + Ajay Agarwal
Marc Benioff
Jack Dorsey
Cori + Tony Bates
Concepcion + Irwin
Federman
CTC | myCFO + BMO
Capital Markets
The Chang Family +
Sabrina Aery
Cathie + Pitch Johnson
Jack Dorsey
The Eltoukhy +
Lucas Families
Jean Kovacs + Brooks
Stough
Concepcion + Irwin
Federman
Goodwin Procter
Sarah + Don Lucas
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
GoPro
Fritzi + David Marston
Jean Kovacs + Brooks
Stough
Greylock Partners
Divya + Ben Silbermann
Gideon Yu
Liz + Thomas Laffont
OCZ Storage Solutions
BUILD ENTREPRENEURS
BAM Forum
Ernst & Young
Janelle + Michael Grimes
Alana Karen
BUILD DINNER
SPONSORS
Shervin Pishevar
Andrea & Bo Moody +
Pilar Woodman
PwC
Gayle + Ron Conway
Morgan Family Foundation
Khosla Ventures
Riverwood Capital +
Sageview Capital
Palo Alto University
Jill + Nick Woodman
Silicon Valley Bank
PCH
Seven Post Private
Investment Office
BUILD DREAM MAKERS
EVENT COMMITTEE
Asset Management
Company
Marisa Canoles
Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP
Katrina Dickson
Huifen Chan + Roelof
Botha
Waypoint Homes
Carson Eltoukhy
Denise Yamamoto +
Josh Hannah
JPMorgan Chase
Qatalyst Partners
Vista Equity Partners
Tarah Evans
Liz Laffont
BAG SPONSOR
Sarah Lucas
Larisa Marinas
Michelle Yee + Reid
Hoffman
Meghan McMurray
Gideon Yu
McKenna Moreau
Liz Nichols
Melissa Reyes
Elena Schiebel
Divya Silbermann
Mamei Sun
Tom Tang
Jill Woodman
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Maven Ventures
NakedWines.com
A customer-funded winery
NakedWines.com is proud to sponsor BUILD and
their mission to promote young entrepreneurship
IN-KIND DONORS
Special Thanks to our In-Kind Donors
Entertainment
GoPro
Perfect Pixel Photo Booth
RockBridge
Event Planning + Design
Services
Blooms Productions
Marisa Canoles
Gala Guest Catering
Paula LeDuc Fine Catering
Guest Giveaways
Bloomingdale’s
Juno Power
Red Bull
Live Auction Package
Jodi + Gary Beasley
Doug Brien + Jim Ellis + Kevin Taweel
Jack Dorsey + Square
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Michael Mina
Paula LeDuc Fine Catering
Sarah Lucas Designs
Ben Silbermann + Pinterest
Baratunde Thurston
Nick Woodman + GoPro
Transportation
Elaine Deutsch
Andrew Torelli + e3 Financial
Volunteer + Student Catering
Rebecca Jean Catering
Wine
Susana Lerner
NakedWines.com
Rebel Coast Winery
Johannes Selbach + Selbach-Oster
WineWise
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HOW DOES BUILD WORK?
BUILD YOUR FUTURE
Students design and launch their own small
business in a credit-bearing, entrepreneurshipbased experiential learning course during their
Freshman Year.
Freshman Year: BUILD Entrepreneurship
21st Century Skills & Academic Success Skills
Success Metrics
9th Grade Course Completion and
10th Grade Eligibility
INCUBATOR PROGRAMS
Students practice and apply skills from the
Entrepreneurship Course through a speciallydesigned experiential program offered after school
in the Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.
Sophomore Year: BUILD Exploration
Enhanced Entrepreneurship
Junior and Senior Years: BUILD Experience
College Access Program and
Workforce Development Activities
Success Metrics
High School Graduation and
College Acceptance
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THANK YOU FOR BEING A
SUPPORTER OF BUILD
BUILD’S MISSION
Through entrepreneurship-based, experiential
learning, BUILD ignites the potential of youth in
under-resourced communities and equips them for
high school, college, and career success
@BUILDNational
/build.org
/company/build
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@BUILDNational
/build.org
/company/build