U.S. Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise Launches 'I am Free Enterprise' Video Contest
Offers $100,000 in Prizes for Best Video Explaining 'This is What Free Enterprise Means to Me'
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign launched the "I am Free Enterprise" video contest today to honor America's current and future entrepreneurs.
"Every idea, every job, every dream for the future is grounded in the ideals of free enterprise," said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. "Free enterprise means having the freedom to compete and the opportunity to shape your own future. I look forward to seeing the American public's thoughts and ideas about free enterprise and hope that the spirit of the contest spreads awareness about the importance of this ideal."
Contestants will create a 3-minute video explaining their free enterprise story – the successful launch of a business, the invention of an innovative product, or how their idea will generate new jobs to boost the economy – upload it to YouTube, and compete to win the cash prizes.
Contestants have until Friday, April 9, to submit a video.
The campaign has tapped a Blue Ribbon Panel of judges comprised of dynamic and creative entrepreneurs to narrow the top twenty five most-viewed videos down to the five finalists. They will assess each video on originality, innovation, power of story, and creativity. The Blue Ribbon Panel includes: Mary Mazzio, an award-winning documentary film director and founder and CEO of 50 Eggs, LLC; Jeremy Schwartz, chief creative officer for Bisnow Media's Summit Series; Michael Simmons, co-founder of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Education Corporation; and Rodney Walker, founder and CEO of Forever Life Music and Video Production and a student at Morehouse College.
"I am honored to be a part of this remarkable contest," stated Mary Mazzio. "BIG DREAMS are at the foundation of great innovation and progress – and the creativity and ingenuity of dreamers, doers, innovators, and entrepreneurs will shine through in this competition. I look forward to seeing the different interpretations of what it means to dream big - and it will be exciting to witness how this is carried out."
The American people will vote for their favorite finalist at www.FreeEnterprise.com beginning on Monday, May 10, through Wednesday, June 2, when the video contest winners will be decided. The contest will award three cash prizes of $50,000, $30,000, and $20,000 at a formal event in mid-June.
How to Enter
Entry is as simple as videotaping a three-minute or less video, uploading it to YouTube, and promoting it to friends and fans for maximum viewership. For detailed information about the contest, including an official entry form and contest rules, log onto www.FreeEnterprise.com/video.
Voting Criteria
All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST on Friday, April 9; there will be a week-long blitz to generate video views ending on Friday, April 16. At that point, the top 25 most-viewed videos will be assessed by a Blue Ribbon Panel, seeking the most creative and innovative interpretations of free enterprise, who will narrow the field to five finalists.
The Ultimate Prize
Once the finalists are selected, Americans will vote online for their favorite entries. The top three will be awarded $50,000, $30,000, and $20,000 respectively at an awards ceremony in June. Winning entries will also be highlighted on www.FreeEnterprise.com/video.
About the Campaign
American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.
The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
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