"Elementary school students get early start in world of business,"
South Miami News, by Robert Morrison, May 2001

Ludlam Elementary School entrepreneurs sold wares recently at Dadeland Mall. Maddie Fenster (left), of the student-run business Florida Animal Marks, tallies up the purchase while Andrea Arencibia-Moore, of Kidoodles, another Ludlam Elementary sponsored business, prepares the goods.

How will the Bill Gateses of the future get their start? They will most likely develop an early business background from programs such as the one sponsored by KidVentures Inc. in partnership with Ludlam Elementary School in South Miami.

KidVentures Inc. is a nonprofit company that is teaching business to schoolchildren. Florida Animal Marks is a business developed through the program by fifth graders from Ludlam Elementary who are learning to create, sell and profit from their own products.

Florida Animal Marks makes bookmarks and greeting cards. All of the products are based on endangered marine animals and designed by the students. When you buy one of the unique bookmarks or greeting cards, all of the profit goes to the Marine Life Preservation Society, specifically to be put towards building a manatee hospital on the Miami Seaquarium grounds.

"Think it's too good to be true?" said young entrepreneur Trey Laurence, 11, "Well, it's true!"

Bookmarks are $1.50 a piece and greeting cards are only $1 each.

Florida Animal Marks had a sales event on Saturday, Apr. 21, at Dadeland Mall at 7535 N. Kendall Dr. Between noon and 5p.m., sales representatives of Florida Animal Marks were at the mall hawking their wares in the center court. The company made $163 for the day, which was below their goal but not bad at all for a first venture.

Florida Animal Marks had another sale on Monday, Apr. 30, at First National Bank of South Miami, 5750 Sunset Dr. The students pulled a long day, working from 9:30a.m. to 6p.m. They were joined by Kidoodles, another Ludlam student-run business that makes and sells greeting cards and key chains to help the manatee hospital.

Kiddodles will be at the Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Dr., on Saturday, May 12, from 3 to 6p.m., and both businesses will attend the donation ceremony on Thursday, May 17, at the Miami Seaquarium.

Alice Horn, now the executive director, founded KidVentures Inc. in 1998. Since then the program has quadrupled in size and is seeking opportunities for expansion to other schools and organizations.

"The program automatically boosts children's self esteem and helps them to reach a higher level of performance in school," Horn said. "The fact that both Dadeland and Sunset Place are supporting us is amazing."

For information on KidVentures Inc. and how to be involved, contact Alice Horn at 305-665-1141.