Ne-Yo: The Compound Foundation’s Future CEO Academy

The Compound Foundation was founded by Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith and his business partner Reynell Hay in 2007. The purpose of the foundation is to enhance the well-being of youth growing up in foster care and group homes, and provide programs that encourage building healthy relationships, pursing educational advancement and bringing dreams to fruition.

A major focus of the Compound Foundation is the Future CEO Academy (FCA), created to provide fundamental entrepreneurial skills to foster youth.

FCA uses a network of celebpreneurs (celebrity/high profile entrepreneur), small-business owners, and entrepreneurial leaders to develop, motivate, and teach those youth who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn these important business and life skills.

These entrepreneurial skills include basics such as intellectual property, market research, how to write a business plan, presenting, and dressing for success. Resources are also provided to ensure educational growth such as obtaining internships, college counseling, scholarship application assistance, “mini-MBA” style workshops and activities that increase community engagement.

The long-term goal of The Compound Foundation’s FCA demonstrates how providing the right tools to build our youth can increase the percentage of foster youth who pursue higher education, receive GEDs, and/or achieve their goals of self-sufficiency and stability.

“The Compound Foundation, we step in and make sure that these kids understand that where you come from and where you go don’t have to have anything to do with each other.”

Visit www.compoundfoundation.org to learn more.