Founder/CEO YCAB Foundation Wins Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2011
Jakarta, 30 November 2011 – Veronica Colondam has been awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 by Ernst & Young on Tuesday, 29 November 2011. The award was given by Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY Awards) in recognition of of founders of organizations (profit or non-profit) that became catalysts in social transformation and deliver remarkable changes through innovative products or services. She was chosen as the recipient of the award alongside two other finalists, namely Aldi Haryopratomo from Rekan Usaha Mikro Anda (RUMA) and Tri Mumpuni from Institut Bisnis dan Ekonomi Kerakyatan (IBEKA).
The EOY Awards are an initiative of Ernst & Young that began in 1986 in the United States and have now reached 140 cities in 50 countries on six continents. On the awarding night that was held at Pacific Place yesterday (29/11) Chairman of Mayapada Group Dato’ Sri Prof. DR. Tahir was also awarded for the Indonesia Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 category. Veronica Colondam would be invited by the Schwab Foundation to attend the Social Entrepreneurs Summit in Zurich, while Dato’ Sri Prof. DR. Tahir would represent Indonesia for the World Entrepreneur of the Year (WOEY) in Monte Carlo in 2012.
Aside from her role as Founder/CEO of Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB Foundation), Veronica Colondam also served as a member of the advisory board of Social Entrepreneurship & Change Program at Pepperdine University and a member of the Advisory Council on Social Entrepreneurship Institut Europeen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD). Veronica found YCAB Foundation in 1999, which began with an initiative in primary prevention of drug abuse among youth. Currently, YCAB Foundation has evolved into a social enterprise aimed at promoting independence among Indonesian youth, and improving the Indonesian Human Development Index (HDI) through its three-pillar programs in health, education, and entrepreneurship.
“I dedicate this award to the YCAB Foundation family who has worked together in making innovative programs to make positive contributions to the society. We are commited to continuous innovation, to expand our programs throughout Indonesia as well as to other developing countries”, Veronica Colondam said.
She added that YCAB Foundation is currently developing a model of social investment to support entrepreneurship development of underprivileged mothers and to reduce school dropout rates. “We aim to change the current paradigm, that we have taken to referring to our donors as ‘investors’ instead of ‘donors’, as they invest in social change as well as contributing to the future of our people.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Advisory Board YCAB Foundation M. Farhan, while acknowledging Veronica’s stellar achievement, was quoted as saying, “Some people claim that a social entrepreneur is a person with the mind of a capitalist and the heart of an angel. However, for me, social entrepreneurs are angels giving up their wings to work among common people for the good of the society.”
Farhan also added, “I have known Vera for a long time, and I think Vera is one of those people with unlimited energy, who never cease to inspire all of us whenever we are around them. Her initiatives embody questions, answers, analyses, data, facts, as well as empathy. Her endless energy fueled her intention of becoming a social entrepreneur, and the same energy has also drawn us to work alongside her in realizing these initiatives.”
Also present at the awarding night were finalists President Commissioner of PT Fajar Surya Wisesa, Tbk Airlangga Hartanto; President Director of PT Estu Adimore Yaputra Brian; Chairman of PT Tiphone Mobile Indonesia Henky Setiawan; President Director of PT Media Indra Buana Nyomananda; Chairman and Vice-President Commissioner of PT Bundamedik Dr. Here SpOG and Dr. Rizal. Here Rizal Ivan MD; and Vice President of the Sahid Group SB Wiryanti Sukamdani.
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About Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB Foundation)
Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB Foundation) is an independent non-profit organization in Indonesia that was established in August 1999 and became a global organization in 2011 through YCAB Foundation. YCAB Foundation is headquartered in New York and is registered as a non-profit organization with tax deductions facility through section 501 (c) (3).
Over the years, YCAB Foundation has evolved into a social enterprise with a focus in youth development by improving their well-being through three areas of concentration: healthy lifestyle promotion, education provision, and economic empowerment.
For further information, please visit: www.ycabfoundation.org
Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB Foundation)
Linda Chalid
Development and Communications Division
Tel: +62 21 5835 5000
E-mail: linda.chalid@ycab.org