Rachael’s self-esteem dropped so much that she began home-schooling rather than face the teasing from kids at school. Rachael learned about nutrition, lost 50 poundswith diet and exercise, and created a 4-H program called HOPE, Helping Obese PeopleThrough Education.

HOPE reaches out to otheryouth coping with obesity. Through HOPE, Rachael gives workshops on nutrition and self-esteem and holds exercise clinics. She teaches youth healthy habits with charts, demonstrates exercises and brings in a personal trainer to measure weight and body fat. She encourages youth to teach their families what they’ve learned or return with their parents and siblings to learn together. HOPE is held at health clubs, school gyms and community health fairs.

She didn’t end her work with this organization. She also founded a second organization called Kids Helping Kids with Asthma.  Rachael works to raise asthma awareness and provides disabled children with an unique opportunity to attend summer camps. Supportive summer camps allow them to have fun and enjoy camp in an environment designed to support medication and management.

Kids can do amazing things. Learn how to start a business, make good decisions, and more at http://www.smckids.com/learnandearn.

Congratulations Aria & C.L.A.N dba Deals on Wheels

We are extremely happy and excited to announce the Grand Prize winners of the Grow Your Own Business Challenge!

L to R: Mike Dean, President Experian Consumer Direct, Aria, Ken Chaplin, Senior Vice President of Experian Consumer Direct
Individual Winner: Aria from PA
Idea: Shine So Bright

Front Row (L to R): Charles, Lucien, Alejandro, Nataniel; Second Row: Warren Buffett with teachers Barbara & Michele
Winning Team: Deals on Wheels from NY
Idea: Deals on Wheels

The finalists presented their ideas to Warren Buffett and a panel of judges on May 21st, 2012.  The winning individual and the winning team members received a grand prize of $5,000 each.

Thank you all for participating and a special shout out to our educators and parents for encouraging their kids to enter the competition.

To see a list of all the winners and their ideas, please click here.

Online voting has closed with over 45,000 votes cast! The votes have now been tallied and it’s time to announce the winners of this round!

Top Voted Finalist: Sarady for her idea “Feel Your World”
Top Voted Team Finalist: Charles, Lucien, Alejandro and Nataniel for their idea “Deals on Wheels”
Read more about their ideas here, www.smckids.com/learnandearn/finalists.

We have one more round of judging to go. All finalists will present their ideas to a judging panel in the final round of judging in Omaha, NE on May 21st. Check back at the end of the day on May 21st to find out if your favorite individual and team made it to the top! 

In 2000, Alex received a stem cell transplant decided thatw hen she got out of the hospital, she wanted to have a lemonade stand. She wanted to give the money to hospitals to help other kids. She held her first lemonade stand later that year and raised $2,000 for “her hospital.”

Each year until her death, Alex held an annual lemonade stand in her front yard and earned. On August 1, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8. As word has spread, donations have poured in from around the world, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand has already raised over $5 million for pediatric cancer research.

What can you do to make a lasting impression? Learn the great life lessons that will get you there, by visiting www.smckids.com/learnandearn today.

Poppy King was 18 years old when she founded Poppy Industries, Lipstick Queen.

Ever go to the store and realize what you want isn’t even on the market? Well, Poppy King did and eventually did something about it. When she couldn’t find the lipstick she wanted, she realized other women may have a similar problem. At the age of 18, she found her first cosmetics company Poppy Industries, which became a huge hit in Australia, earning her the Young Australian of the Year award in 1995.

Although the company eventually dissolved in 2002, after its tempestuous launch in the United States, King is still a fixture in the cosmetic industry, serving as a consultant for Estee Lauder and forming a new company. Her Book, Lipstick Queen, which is sold through her clever website, www.lipstickqueen.com.

In just a few days, we will be announcing the Finalists in the Grow Your Own Business Challenge. Stay Tuned!

“I invented the Explorer’s Gloves because I enjoy playing with gadgets and wanted one easy way to carry them all,” explained Nathan.

Though Wild Planet manufactures several kid-invented toys, the Explorer’s Gloves are the first kid-created item the company is offering through an exclusive retail partnership and the first kid-invented product to be sold at GapKids stores. (An awesome achievement!)

Nathaniel was able to make a change in a large, well-known clothing company. Where can you leave your mark? Go to www.smckids.com/learnandearn for some great business tips from Warren Buffet.

This business-savvy teen set up shop in 1999 and now expects several million in sales for 2002. With all this success under his belt, Mohamed has no intention of slowing down. Currently seeking venture funding to expand his service offering, he wants to turn GlobalTek Solutions into a multibillion-dollar company in the next decade. He also plans on obtaining an MBA from Harvard.

Take a look at what he had to say in this interview.

Q: What does GlobalTek do?

A: We provide software solutions for the healthcare industry, for patient charts, prescriptions or management of patient information. We deliver solutions essential to help healthcare companies automate, digitise and manage their patient information and their prescriptions.

Q: What inspired you to start GlobalTek, and what were your initial concerns, especially as a minor?

A: Obviously at 12, you’re going to be hampered by legal issues. My parents had to take over signing contracts and cheques. Other than that, I really didn’t face that many obstacles. I largely focused on merit, and tried to convince clients that our company would provide the best solution at the best price.

Q: As a 12-year-old, you must have faced scepticism over your professional abilities?

A: No, not personally. In fact, people were very interested in engaging with GlobalTek, perhaps because they saw in me a fresh perspective on technology and innovative solutions. I was coming from a background where I had no bias nor slant on anything. That may also have translated into an advantage for our customers. My age may not have been a help, but it was certainly not a barrier.

Read More…

If you’ve got a great idea for a business or you know a kid with great ideas, get involved with the Secret Millionaires Club Grow Your Own Challenge. Visit www.smckids.com/learnandearn to learn more.

What do you think is Shazad’s greatest contribution through his company?

Check back soon – the Semifinalists will be announced shortly!

8th grade entrepreneur Anshul Samar began his entrepreneurial career by seeking an alternative to boring study. He created Elementeo, a card game based on chemical elements in which players battle to reduce their opponents’ electrons (and ultimately their in-game IQ) to zero.

“Entrepreneurship is cool, and so is chemistry! Both are full of actions, reactions, explosions, experiments, and most importantly, they both give the joy and excitement of creating something new!” says Anshul of his Elementeo game and of his passion for entrepreneurship.

Samar started his company with a $500 grant from the California Association of the Gifted. By founding and becoming the CEO of Alchemist Empire Inc., Samar has already fulfilled his 4th grade dream of becoming a CEO of his own business.

When he is not working on his business, Anshul chats up venture capitalists and lawyers, talks to parents and teachers, gives presentations at conferences, talks to the media, and, of course, finishes his homework.

You can read more about Anshul in his New York Times article - and if he inspires you to build your own business, we’d love to see you enter the Secret Millionaires Club “Grow Your Own Business” competition.