The Weiser Endowment for Next Generation Entrepreneurs
(Dearborn, Mich., July 16, 2019) — As the William Davidson Initiative for Entrepreneurship ramps up for its official launch in 2019, it’s having the vision to see the program succeed for decades to come that also counts. For The Henry Ford, Ambassador Ronald N. Weiser is one of those visionaries who is always looking for ways to positively impact the future and inspire our next generations.
A longtime supporter of The Henry Ford and a trustee since 1988, Weiser and his wife, Eileen, are the catalysts behind the Weiser Endowment for Next Generation Entrepreneurs, a $10 million leadership gift to The Innovation Project.
“I have watched The Innovation Project develop from the start, and have been a part of the conversation since it was first conceived,” said Weiser. “The idea of giving young people a better understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship is what will continue to differentiate this country from others around the world. It’s what will help us continue to grow and prosper.”
When Weiser was first presented with The Innovation Project’s goals and the scope of the entrepreneurial programming, he was quick to offer his support. In fact, he immediately doubled the gift The Henry Ford was requesting to help support the project.
“The Weiser Endowment for Next Generation Entrepreneurs will ensure that The Henry Ford continues to help launch future generations of young entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators by connecting them to The Henry Ford in accessible and relevant ways well into the future,” said J. Spencer Medford, vice president and chief advancement officer at The Henry Ford. “With Ambassador and Mrs. Weiser’s generous support, we will not only be able to provide access to more experiential learning tools and content, but we will be empowered to create an all-new sustainable global platform for entrepreneurial activity housed within Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.”
Thanks to Weiser’s generosity and vision, The Henry Ford will be actively exploring, testing and developing a diverse set of initiatives around entrepreneurship — such as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program — for generations to come.
“The spirit of entrepreneurship shows itself in many different ways,” said Weiser. “We need to feed that spirit and teach kids how to take the risks, start small businesses, which are the engines that run America, and know how to manage them successfully. I am confident that The Henry Ford and this project can help young people see what’s over that hill and imagine things they never thought possible.”