Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge Semi-Finalists to Pitch on March 6

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and wife Brittany launched the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003 with a mission to advance research in the fight against cancer to provide care, education, and opportunities for children and families in need. In 2009, the Foundation partnered with the local hub for entrepreneurs,The Idea Village, to create the Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge.

The Challenge, now also in partnership with Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JA) is an annual entrepreneurship program and competition for local high school students. The combination of programs will means the competition will be able to reach 2,500 students who want to be a part of the entrepreneurial movement in the city.

Semi-finalists will pitch their business plans to the public on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the JA facility. Attendees will then vote on the student entrepreneur’s crazy ideas and decide who will move onto the final round and a chance at $30,000 in prizes.

After the pitch, students will then board a bus for the New Orleans Pelicans game, where the finalists will be announced at halftime from mid-court.

The Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge will culminate in Youth Entrepreneur Day during the 7th annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, produced by The Idea Village.

“Every kid has a dream, they just need someone to believe in them,” said Drew Brees, Quarterback of the New Orleans Saints.  “That’s what the Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge is all about; surrounding students with people, opportunities, and resources that can help make their dream a reality.”

“We hope that the lessons learned during this program will become lifelong skills, benefitting the students into their careers and beyond,” added Brittany Brees.