Pat Guerra Honored
In recognition of Pat’s vision in the development and implementation of this highly successful transformational program, the University will establish the "Patrick Guerra Social Entrepreneurs Fund" to further the work of those carrying forward his legacy. In founding the Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University, Pat Guerra envisioned a "solution" that was far more than a two-week executive program for social entrepreneurs. He envisioned a program that was built around the needs of entrepreneurs who are addressing the fundamental concerns of poverty, disease, and human suffering, and the absence of livelihood opportunities through innovations which can scale through mechanisms other than welfare and charity. Such a program, he envisioned, would need to combine the innovative work of society's change agents with the discipline of business planning, business models, and market mechanisms. It would need to create a blended model of education that combined careful selection, with classroom instruction, quality mentoring, and actionable research. The "solution" envisioned by Pat has been characterized by continuous innovation in residential and distance learning pedagogy. It has engaged faculty, students, and an expanding circle of Silicon Valley mentors, as well as national and international partner organizations. Moreover, it has made a measurable impact in the ability of social benefit organizations to achieve sustainability and scale in the pursuit of their compelling social goals around the world. It has become a force for transformation in the lives of GSBI program alumni and the human needs they serve. To continue to build on the foundation created by Pat Guerra, Santa Clara University hereby establishes the Pat Guerra Social Entrepreneurs Fund to further the work of those who will carry on his legacy of providing social entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and access to other resources needed to support the hope for a better life for all people that exists in the creative imaginations and hard work of social entrepreneurs. (Note: These funds may be used to fund attendance for a social entrepreneur who's work best exemplifies a commitment to earned income as a basis for sustaining a social venture, to overcome the travel expense barrier of attending Santa Clara University's residential program from a developing country, or to foster continued development of a comprehensive approach to serve the needs of social entrepreneurs.) |
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