REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwired - May 6, 2013) - Today, BUILD ( www.build.org ) is pleased to announce that digital pioneer Jack Dorsey will hit the auction block in support of the national non-profit's mission to use entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged, low-income students through high school and college and career success. Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and co-founder and CEO of Square, has generously offered a winning bidder and up to seven friends the unique opportunity to join him for lunch at Square in San Francisco. The auction, handled by eBay, is open to bidders from May 6 - May 16 at www.eBay.com/dinewithjackdorsey . Bidding is open internationally and starts at $5,000.
"BUILD represents one of the best ways to tackle educational challenges -- through entrepreneurship and pride in ownership. BUILD's method gives kids the toolkits they need to build the futures they want -- and it is inspiring to see what they create," said Dorsey.
Dorsey has been a stalwart and an active supporter of BUILD's mission to promote college readiness and career success through entrepreneurship education since 2010. He has hosted live video mentoring sessions fielding questions from students and struggling entrepreneurs. In 2011 and 2012, he auctioned two highly coveted Square internships at The BUILD Gala ( www.build.org/gala ) raising more than $60,000 for the cause. He has also participated as a judge in student entrepreneurial competitions in Bay Area school districts. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious "Pitch" Prize for Innovation in Entrepreneurship, named for venture capital luminary and founding BUILD supporters, Franklin "Pitch" and Catherine Johnson. Dorsey sits on the National Board of Directors for BUILD.
"BUILD is honored that Jack Dorsey continues his personal commitment to our organization and our students who, without BUILD, would be at high risk of dropping out of high school. Jack is a living testament to the success we strive to inspire in our students," said BUILD Founder and CEO Suzanne McKechnie Klahr. "In addition to the other extraordinary work Jack does on BUILD's behalf, this priceless experience will help us achieve our goal of eradicating the dropout crisis in America by 2030."
Every day, 7,200 students drop out of high school. Nearly 80 percent of dropouts do so because they were not motivated or inspired to learn. In BUILD's 13-year history, 99 percent of BUILD seniors have graduated from high school and 94 percent of BUILD seniors were accepted to college. Several BUILD student teams will be showcasing their businesses at BUILD's 3rd Annual Gala where Silicon Valley's technology icons will join to honor Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, with the "Pitch" Prize for Innovation in Entrepreneurship on May 17th at the Metreon in San Francisco. For complete details about the auction and to pre-qualify for bidding, go to www.eBay.com/dinewithjackdorsey .
About BUILD
Founded in 1999, BUILD's mission is to use entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged, low-income students through high school to college success. BUILD believes that the power of student ideas in action drives youth to reach their fullest potential in school and beyond. The four-year high school program offers a unique blend of entrepreneurship, academics and personal support that attracts and motivates many students who are otherwise at high risk of failing classes and dropping out of high school.
BUILD currently serves high school students at programs located in Redwood City and Oakland, Calif.; Washington D.C. and Boston, Mass. For more information see: www.build.org .
About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. (
About Kompolt Since 2002, KOMPOLT ( www.kompolt.com ) has executed over 500 high-profile Cause Marketing campaigns. These campaigns, launched globally to large and diverse communities on eBay and social networks like Facebook and Twitter, have built brand awareness and goodwill for over 400 of the world's best known brands, celebrities, agencies and charities. KOMPOLT campaigns have raised over $40 million for http://www.kompolt.com causes worldwide, attracted billions of impressions and engaged millions of consumers in cause-driven transactions. KOMPOLT is a Causemedia Group company ( www.causemediagroup.com ).
