Scholarship Information

A limited number of scholarships are available for participants accepted into the Core program. The application deadline for scholarships is June 15. Prospective participants are encourage to apply to the Core program early to allow enough time to complete the scholarship application process.

Jim Genthner has a long history with CEL, first as a member of the CEL Core Class of 2009, and then as a mentor and reactor for the program. Jim has dedicated numerous hours sharing his time and talent with many other CEL companies and the CEL Alumni Association. Sue Genthner is a retired art teacher from the Hilton Central School District and is dedicated to supporting art education and the nonprofit sector. Together, they have a passion for supporting entrepreneurship with a special interest in embedding the skills and practices of entrepreneurship into the nonprofit and social sectors to help these important organizations learn skills that will enable long-term sustainability.

Amount: $2,000 (Two recipients per year)
Eligibility: Leader of a nonprofit or social sector organization.

As one of the first graduates of CEL, Fred Saia, Core ’88, has created an endowed fund to be used for the purpose of helping to defray costs associated with participation in the Core program. In the years following establishment of the endowment, multiple CEL alumni have contributed to the fund to multiply the impact of the original endowment.

Amount: $3,000 (One recipient per year)
Eligibility: Entrepreneur leading a for-profit company with revenue between $300,000 and $3,000,000 annually. Preference will be given to companies judged to have significant growth potential to add jobs in Western New York.

Amount: $1,000 (One recipient per year)
Eligibility: Entrepreneur in a for-profit company. Preference given to entrepreneurs in a family business, especially multigeneration family businesses.

CEL’s Advisory Council consists of CEL alumni and outside business leaders who believe in advancing entrepreneurial skills in Western New York. Through their generous support of time, talent and treasure, they help CEL advance its mission to unlock human potential, create jobs, inspire wealth and invigorate the greater Western New York economy and community through entrepreneurial development. The council wishes to advance and support past participants in the M&T Bank Emerging Entrepreneurs program (previously Allstate) whose businesses have grown to the level where additional CEL involvement through the Core program will enhance their growth and help create jobs and impact the community.

Amount: $4,000 (Number of recipients varies per year)
Eligibility: Alumni of CEL’s Allstate or M&T Bank Emerging Entrepreneurs program