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Thrilled that my screenplay adaptation of GOODBYE HOMEBOY - the story of South Bronx special ed teacher Steve Mariotti and the gutsy teens who inspired him to found the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - is an AWARD WINNER in the Big Apple film Festival! Time to bring this inspiring story to the silver screen with our wonderful producer Richard Baratta🍿🎥 Every child deserves financial literacy education so they can make it in this world. Dear Steve, this is for you! ♥️

@nfte @steve.mariotti @sticksbaratta @bigapplefilmfestival

#teachermovie #nfte #entrepreneurshipeducation

Thrilled that my screenplay adaptation of GOODBYE HOMEBOY - the story of South Bronx special ed teacher Steve Mariotti and the gutsy teens who inspired him to found the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - is an AWARD WINNER in the Big Apple film Festival! Time to bring this inspiring story to the silver screen with our wonderful producer Richard Baratta🍿🎥 Every child deserves financial literacy education so they can make it in this world. Dear Steve, this is for you! ♥️

@nfte @steve.mariotti @sticksbaratta @bigapplefilmfestival

#teachermovie #nfte #entrepreneurshipeducation

Thrilled that my screenplay adaptation of GOODBYE HOMEBOY - the story of South Bronx special ed teacher Steve Mariotti and the gutsy teens who inspired him to found the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - is an AWARD WINNER in the Big Apple film Festival! Time to bring this inspiring story to the silver screen with our wonderful producer Richard Baratta🍿🎥 Every child deserves financial literacy education so they can make it in this world. Dear Steve, this is for you! ♥️

@nfte @steve.mariotti @sticksbaratta @bigapplefilmfestival

#teachermovie #nfte #entrepreneurshipeducation

We’re so grateful for the ways you support NFTE. Your input helps us grow, and with only 5 days left before it wraps up, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your feedback in the survey at the link in bio. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Thank you to @scj for their generous $10,000 grant supporting NFTE’s Aspiring Entrepreneurs Program in Chicago!

Through this partnership, students from under-resourced communities across the Midwest will gain access to entrepreneurship education, business plan development, mentorship, and real-world innovation experiences that empower them to pursue their dreams and create positive change in their communities.

We’re grateful for SC Johnson’s commitment to creating opportunity — and for investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers. #SCJcares

Congratulations to the winners of the NFTE South Showcase! These young entrepreneurs impressed judges with innovative business ideas, strong storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit.

🥇 Gizelle Terrones from Career Institute North with Gigi’s Homers
🥈 Carlos Anez from Career Institute North with Powerful AI Hydration Bottle
🥉 Muna Dukes from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted with Aiyana

Gizelle and Carlos will go on to represent the South at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this fall! 🚀

We also celebrated our Entrepreneurship 2 competition winners:
🥇 Volley Connect — Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted
🥈 Flash Cloak — Bryan Adams High School
🥉 NostalJar — Career Institute East

A huge thank you to Comerica Bank for hosting this incredible event and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to the winners of the NFTE South Showcase! These young entrepreneurs impressed judges with innovative business ideas, strong storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit.

🥇 Gizelle Terrones from Career Institute North with Gigi’s Homers
🥈 Carlos Anez from Career Institute North with Powerful AI Hydration Bottle
🥉 Muna Dukes from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted with Aiyana

Gizelle and Carlos will go on to represent the South at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this fall! 🚀

We also celebrated our Entrepreneurship 2 competition winners:
🥇 Volley Connect — Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted
🥈 Flash Cloak — Bryan Adams High School
🥉 NostalJar — Career Institute East

A huge thank you to Comerica Bank for hosting this incredible event and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to the winners of the NFTE South Showcase! These young entrepreneurs impressed judges with innovative business ideas, strong storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit.

🥇 Gizelle Terrones from Career Institute North with Gigi’s Homers
🥈 Carlos Anez from Career Institute North with Powerful AI Hydration Bottle
🥉 Muna Dukes from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted with Aiyana

Gizelle and Carlos will go on to represent the South at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this fall! 🚀

We also celebrated our Entrepreneurship 2 competition winners:
🥇 Volley Connect — Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted
🥈 Flash Cloak — Bryan Adams High School
🥉 NostalJar — Career Institute East

A huge thank you to Comerica Bank for hosting this incredible event and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Teachers are the reason entrepreneurship education comes to life.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who go beyond the lesson plan—who challenge students to think differently, take risks, and see opportunity where others see obstacles. In NFTE classrooms across the country, teachers are helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

From longtime champions to those just beginning their journey with NFTE, your impact is lasting and profound. You’re not just teaching business concepts—you’re shaping mindsets, opening doors, and fueling the next generation of innovators.

Thank you for showing up, pushing boundaries, and believing in what’s possible for every student.

Teachers are the reason entrepreneurship education comes to life.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who go beyond the lesson plan—who challenge students to think differently, take risks, and see opportunity where others see obstacles. In NFTE classrooms across the country, teachers are helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

From longtime champions to those just beginning their journey with NFTE, your impact is lasting and profound. You’re not just teaching business concepts—you’re shaping mindsets, opening doors, and fueling the next generation of innovators.

Thank you for showing up, pushing boundaries, and believing in what’s possible for every student.

Teachers are the reason entrepreneurship education comes to life.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who go beyond the lesson plan—who challenge students to think differently, take risks, and see opportunity where others see obstacles. In NFTE classrooms across the country, teachers are helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

From longtime champions to those just beginning their journey with NFTE, your impact is lasting and profound. You’re not just teaching business concepts—you’re shaping mindsets, opening doors, and fueling the next generation of innovators.

Thank you for showing up, pushing boundaries, and believing in what’s possible for every student.

Thank you to the incredible 1,134 volunteers who made the NFTE World Series of Innovation 2025–2026 season possible. 💡🌍

From coaching teams to serving as judges, you didn’t just support the experience—you helped shape it. Your time, insight, and encouragement created a space where young people could think boldly, solve real-world challenges, and feel seen in the process.

And if you ask our volunteers, the impact goes both ways:

“Judging students’ creative ideas from different cultures and countries was amazing and inspiring… they are helping solve critical global challenges in their own ways.” — Mike Jortberg, Slalom Consulting

“As a volunteer I was inspired by the empathy, consideration, and ingenuity of the students… it was incredible to see how personal experiences sparked innovation.”

“Being part of this process reminded me that these students may become future leaders and changemakers—and that our feedback can help them feel seen, motivated, and empowered.”

“Every time that I volunteer with NFTE I am inspired by the youth that I encounter to keep dreaming & keep building.” — Shiela Clark

To everyone who gave their time and talent this season: thank you for helping the next generation turn ideas into action.

🏃‍♀️ Big news: NFTE is hitting the starting line!

We’re proud to announce that NFTE is an official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon, taking place on November 1, 2026—one of the world’s most iconic races, bringing together tens of thousands of runners and supporters from around the globe.

Now, you can be part of Team NFTE every step of the way.

Whether you choose to support the team or cheer on our runners, your involvement helps power entrepreneurship education for young people everywhere.
👉 Support Team NFTE or donate to a runner at nfte.com/2026NYCMarathon or at the link in bio.

Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting our three incredible runners—so stay tuned to meet the inspiring individuals taking on 26.2 miles for NFTE!

Deneen McDonald has spent more than 26 years in the classroom helping students see what’s possible for their futures.

As a NFTE educator, she brings entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and real-world skill-building together—empowering students to think critically, take risks, collaborate, and find their voice. Her classroom is about more than business plans; it’s about confidence, resilience, and giving every student a reason to believe in themselves.

From her early inspiration to teach to becoming a NFTE Global Teacher of the Year, her story is one of passion, purpose, and impact.

Read more about her journey and the lessons she brings to her students at the link in bio.

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

🌍 This Earth Day, we’re spotlighting innovation supporting communities during climate‑driven disruptions—from the palm of their hand.

Meet Gravataí Support & Shelter Assist, a World Series of Innovation CBT Tech Climate Solutions finalist from Brazil. This powerful crisis coordination platform connects people to critical resources during climate disasters—centralizing shelter information, matching volunteers, and aligning NGO support in real time.

When disaster strikes, help often exists—but communication gaps can keep it out of reach. This team is changing that.

“When nature accelerates, communication cannot be left behind.”

That’s the kind of bold thinking the future demands. 💡🌱

🚨 And the winners are in! 🚨

After months of innovation, creativity, and bold problem-solving, we’re thrilled to announce the 2025–2026 World Series of Innovation Impact League champions!

🌍✨ These young entrepreneurs didn’t just rise to the challenge—they reimagined what’s possible, tackling real-world issues with powerful ideas and unstoppable drive. A huge congratulations to all of our winners and participants who made this season unforgettable. The future is bright—and it’s being built right now. 💡

Special thanks to our incredible sponsors—@mycbttech, @comerica_bank, everbank_, @paypal, @ey_us, and the MetLife Foundation—for making this global competition possible and empowering the next generation of changemakers.

👉 Tap the link in bio to meet the winners!

From NFTE student ➡️ NFTE team member.

Meet Jordan Ferguson 👋—a NFTE alum who’s come full circle and is now making an impact as a Development Associate.

His journey is a reminder that the entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t end when the program does—it grows, evolves, and sometimes brings you right back to where it all started.

Tap through to learn more about Jordan’s story, what drives him, and the advice he has for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

From NFTE student ➡️ NFTE team member.

Meet Jordan Ferguson 👋—a NFTE alum who’s come full circle and is now making an impact as a Development Associate.

His journey is a reminder that the entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t end when the program does—it grows, evolves, and sometimes brings you right back to where it all started.

Tap through to learn more about Jordan’s story, what drives him, and the advice he has for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

From NFTE student ➡️ NFTE team member.

Meet Jordan Ferguson 👋—a NFTE alum who’s come full circle and is now making an impact as a Development Associate.

His journey is a reminder that the entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t end when the program does—it grows, evolves, and sometimes brings you right back to where it all started.

Tap through to learn more about Jordan’s story, what drives him, and the advice he has for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

From NFTE student ➡️ NFTE team member.

Meet Jordan Ferguson 👋—a NFTE alum who’s come full circle and is now making an impact as a Development Associate.

His journey is a reminder that the entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t end when the program does—it grows, evolves, and sometimes brings you right back to where it all started.

Tap through to learn more about Jordan’s story, what drives him, and the advice he has for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

From NFTE student ➡️ NFTE team member.

Meet Jordan Ferguson 👋—a NFTE alum who’s come full circle and is now making an impact as a Development Associate.

His journey is a reminder that the entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t end when the program does—it grows, evolves, and sometimes brings you right back to where it all started.

Tap through to learn more about Jordan’s story, what drives him, and the advice he has for the next generation of entrepreneurs.