Create a hotel brand to fund youth programs and provide youth with jobs

Throughout my young life I have been very different. I have been diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, a condition that causes me to have unmanageable motor and physical “tics” since age eight. I have lacked having friends, socializing, and doing many things that people enjoy in childhood. There have been benefits to being “different.” I have never followed the crowd and have always done my own thing. Being a youth who does not participate in sports and has unique interests, I found it extremely difficult to find interesting activities in my school. In early 2009, I approached my school with the idea of expanding activities. The school did not see it feasible to create new activities. I then looked at what could be done in my community. I thought of a youth center. There had been attempts to open centers in the past but all efforts failed. I determined that I needed education on how to run a charity. I joined a program called The Young Entrepreneurs Academy at SUNY Geneseo learn how to effectively operate a business or charity. After the program ended, the youth center project began to develop by partnering with the charity ABVI-Goodwill. ABVI was opening a store and community center in Geneseo. Our groups then joined together. The youth center opened in November of 2010 in the Goodwill Community Center and will serve youth for many years. I have a passion for hospitality and would like to use this passion while helping others. I desire to open a social enterprise hotel chain that provides funding for youth development programs while also employing youth. Welcome to Benevolence Inn. This social enterprise, family oriented lodging chain will fund non-profit youth development programs. Many experts have been very supportive of the idea and have said it can work with the right team and funding. My current plan calls for an initial 60 room hotel in the Western New York area. Over 75% of entry level jobs at the hotels will be fulfilled by youth.