Pinky Cole Hayes gifts Savannah State University's class of 2024 an $8.75 million "Entrepreneurial Starter Pack," empowering graduates with essential resources for their entrepreneurial ventures.
Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Pinky Cole Hayes, known for her innovative ventures like Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, delivered an empowering commencement speech to the Savannah State University class of 2024. But her impact didn’t stop there. Cole Hayes stunned the graduates by gifting them an $8.75 million “Entrepreneurial Starter Pack” in collaboration with Operation HOPE and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB).
Savannah State University Interim President Cynthia Robinson Alexander, said, “We are excited about this fantastic opportunity for our students and grateful to Mrs. Cole Hayes for leading this investment opportunity.”
A Generous Gift
Each graduate will receive invaluable resources, including entrepreneurial educational materials, one-on-one mentoring from 1MBB, and an eight-week small business training course covering business plan development and financial management. Additionally, they’ll enjoy three months of free access to Shopify, empowering them to kickstart their entrepreneurial dreams.
One Million Black Businesses Initiative
The initiative, a partnership between Operation HOPE and Shopify, aims to launch, grow, and scale one million Black-owned businesses by 2030. By providing essential tools and support, this collaboration seeks to foster economic empowerment within the Black community and pave the way for generational wealth creation.
John Hope Bryant, CEO and founder of Operation HOPE, said, “Since I founded Operation HOPE, it was grounded in my experience as a young, Black entrepreneur seeking to reach one hand down the ladder to lift people up along with me. Entrepreneurship was the success trajectory I discovered, thanks to a banker who came to my elementary school to teach financial literacy, and taught me what an entrepreneur was. That banker changed my life. Pinky Cole Hayes is a living example of what happens when a brilliant idea meets opportunity. With 1MBB, we want to offer opportunities to as many brilliant ideas as we can reach and are excited to partner with Pinky to help lift up the next generation of Black entrepreneurial excellence.”
Savannah State University Class of 2024 Graduates Photo by Riku Reels
Supporting Future Leaders
This isn’t the first time Cole Hayes has uplifted young people. From sponsoring high school proms to providing LLCs for college graduates to start businesses, she’s consistently demonstrated her commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.
Cole Hayes said, “I am passionate about lifting up the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of our world. I know firsthand what it means to have mentorship and how someone believing in your dream can make a difference. This graduating class has experienced so much adversity. Their college years began with a global pandemic and they have had to navigate their lives through unprecedented events. Through it all, they have thrived and are ready to enter the ‘real world’ with more experience and the confidence to face life’s new challenges. I believe in these graduates, and I hope that this gift will help them as they transition into this next phase of their lives.”
Beyond her culinary success, Cole Hayes is a passionate advocate for marginalized communities and the founder of The Pinky Cole Foundation. Recognized for her achievements, she continues to inspire others through her philanthropy, activism, and entrepreneurial spirit.
