Washington DC, Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media Contact:
Natasha Smith
Voya Financial
(212) 309-8200
Natasha.Smith@voya.com
Michelle Sagan
National Down Syndrome Society
Phone: (301) 728-0447
media@ndss.org
Since 2020, the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and Voya Cares® have partnered to provide financial support to entrepreneurs with Down syndrome, allowing them to create or expand their businesses. The NDSS and Voya Cares® Entrepreneur Grant celebrates both Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month and elevates the national conversation about the need for greater employment opportunities for people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. Throughout the four-year partnership, NDSS and Voya Cares® have provided a total of $75,000 to six entrepreneurs.
"NDSS is committed to fostering meaningful professional lives for adults with Down syndrome across the country," said NDSS President & CEO Kandi Pickard. "Through these grants, Voya Cares® is providing valuable support to entrepreneurs with Down syndrome while highlighting small, disability-owned businesses and the impact they are making on disability-inclusive employment."
This October, NDSS and Voya Cares® are providing two $10,000 grants to entrepreneurs with Down syndrome who were chosen from a pool of fifteen applicants based on their business plans, goals, and the impact they provide to the Down syndrome and disability communities. The 2023 grant recipients are Jacob Kiefor of This is Jacob LLC and Mohamed Camara of Zero Premium Condiments.
Jacob Kiefor started his business, This is Jacob LLC, after he found securing a traditional job to be challenging. He decided he wanted to start his own company and "show people that we are employable and capable." Jacob creates custom apparel and personalized door mats which ...