IFA Educational Foundation Receives Endowment Gift To Fund New Initiative

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:

Gionne Jones, IFA, 202-662-0772

gjones@franchise.org

@franchising411


IFA Educational Foundation Receives Endowment Gift To Fund New Initiative


Washington, Oct. 27, 2015 — The IFA Educational Foundation announced today a significant endowment gift by David McKinnon, co-founder of ServiceBrands International to fund its newest initiative – NextGen In Franchising, an industry-wide effort to usher in a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.  McKinnon is Managing Director of TriniD Ventures. Service Brands International which includes Molly Maid, Mr. Handyman, and ProTect Painters, with a combined $283 million in system-wide sales, was acquired in June by the Dwyer Group.


Education Foundation Chairman Doc Cohen, CFE, and CEO of DOC & Associates, announced the donation and appointed McKinnon to chair a new committee to guide expanding the exciting new program in the years ahead.  McKinnon was elected Vice Chair of the EF Board of Trustees and was also elected to the IFA Board of Directors.  NextGen In Franchising brings together young entrepreneurs with leading franchise executives to assist them with developing their franchise business.  


“We are very excited and grateful to have David’s financial support, but more importantly, his passion and creativity for our NextGen In Franchising initiative,” said Cohen. 


The NextGen In Franchising Global Competition is now live, accepting applications through October 30, 2015 at www.nextgenfrachising.org from promising young startups with the potential to scale through the franchise business model. In addition, the top competition winner will receive the first David McKinnon Global Franchising Award.


Launched on September 3, the Educational Foundation will award all winners a trip to the International Franchise Association’s Annual Convention next February in San Antonio, participation in a year-round “accelerator” business development program with industry leaders and CEOs, and a complimentary IFA membership.  The contest is open to entrepreneurs from 21 to 35 years old, in business for 1-5 years, with business concepts that have the potential to scale through franchising. 


Last February the foundation recognized 50 winners of the first NextGen In Franchising Global Competition at the IFA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas.  Winners were selected from over 450 applicants from 44 countries.


“I am thrilled to be a part of NextGen and I am looking forward to the years ahead of helping young entrepreneurs achieve their dreams in franchising as I have,” said McKinnon.


“Since David McKinnon discovered the NextGen winners at the convention last year, he has been the most inspiring mentor.  He has made it his mission to ensure NextGen can impact a lot of young entrepreneurs with great ideas for franchise businesses,” said Jennifer Kushell, CEO of YSN and producer of the NextGen campaign.


The NextGen In Franchising initiative has received donations from major corporations, foundations and individuals including: The Stewart & Jane Bainum Fund; Stephen P. Joyce Fund; Choice Hotels Foundation; J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation; Tariq Farid, Edible Arrangements; Charlie Chase, FirstService Brands, Inc.; Aziz Hashim, NRD Holdings; Amit Kleinberger, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt; Joe Bourdow, Valpak; Melanie Bergeron, Two Men & A Truck; Amit Pamecha, FranConnect; and Lawrence “Doc” Cohen, DOC & Associates.


For more information about NextGen In Franchising and the Global Contest visit —  http://nextgenfranchising.org.


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About the IFA Educational Foundation


The IFA Educational Foundation, founded in 1983, is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. IFAEF serves as an active partner with IFA in shaping the future of franchising through research, professional development, outreach, and scholarships. The Foundation is supported through the generous contributions of IFA members and donors.


About Young & Successful Media


Spearheading this campaign is Young & Successful Media (YSN.com), a global youth education and marketing agency. Young & Successful Media specializes in the next generation workforce, with an emphasis on youth empowerment, engagement, employment and entrepreneurship. Through its strategic consulting practice, the company has built highly-targeted, award-winning campaigns, forums and strategies to engage and connect ambitious young people around the globe. Its web-based portal, YSN.com, attracts young leaders from over 160 countries, providing them with insights and best practices to sculpt their careers and pursue their passions. YSN’s founder, Jennifer Kushell, is no stranger to the franchise industry and is the daughter of Edward Kushell, a past IFA Chairman.


About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 55 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 780,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.9 million direct jobs, $890 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.

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