Young Entrepreneurs Across Oakland County Get Acron2Oak Grants
(Leadership Oakland, March 5, 2025)
Oakland County, MI – Oakland County and Leadership Oakland are proud to announce the latest round of grants for the Acorn2Oak Program, with 17 young entrepreneurs receiving grants of up to $1,000 to fund their innovative projects and business initiatives.
Since its launch in February 2024, the Acorn2Oak program has been dedicated to fostering the innovation and creativity of the county’s youth, ages 8 to 18, by helping them turn their dreams into achievable goals.
In the program’s first year, 69 grants have been awarded to youth across the county.
“Our young people are so smart and compassionate, and they want to turn their impressive ideas into thriving business and charitable ventures,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “We created Acorn2Oak to encourage them and help them turn those dreams into a reality. I have no doubt that we’ll be hearing more about these young leaders well into the future.”
There are three focus areas students can apply under:
- Business and Entrepreneurial Development: Supporting young entrepreneurs to kickstart their ventures.
- Community Impact: Funding projects aimed at enhancing social enterprises, nonprofits, or community initiatives.
- Educational Achievement: Engaging in academic programs, educational competitions, or specialized training.
- Extracurricular Investment: Supporting one-time investments in activities aligned with the program’s mission.
The Grant Awardees:
- Anissa Jackson, Stitching Fairy Designs, 8, Royal Oak
- Malia Fahnestock, Bumble Beads: Empowering Creativity and Supporting Service Dogs for Veterans, 10, South Lyon
- Kaydence Reeves, Kay’s Kreations, 11, New Hudson
- Annie Williams, The Stuff Store, 11, South Lyon
- Charlotte Farmer, 3d Printing Business, 12, Waterford
- Drake Scott, Eklipsz Apparel: Empowering Creativity Through Custom Clothing Transfer Design, 12, Pontiac
- Taylor Brewer, Sleigh for Smiles Grant, 12, Waterford
- Julianna Achatz, Bold Jules Jewelry, 13, South Lyon
- Henry Lynch, H3nryDoesEverything, 13, Milford
- Matthew Hoag, Diving Deeper for Conservation, 13, Clarkston
- Matilda Edvardsson, West Bloomfield Has Heart, 16, West Bloomfield
- Anna Wang, TVC Leadership Workshop, 16, Troy
- Kuumba Touray, GTC Gymnastics, 16, Pontiac
- Andrew Ge and Christopher Laboda, Immigration Employment Support Project, 17, Oakland
- Katherine Kehrer, Stick to Mental Health, 17, Lake Orion
- Julia Salanta, Solar-Powered Battery Charger and Filament Recycler, 17, Rochester Hills
- Kennedy Murar, Innovative Phone Case Design and Marketing Initiative, 18, Oak Park
“We are so excited about the continued success of this incredible program,” said Susan Hollady, Executive Director of Leadership Oakland. “We congratulate this latest round of inspiring winners and are looking forward to the next round of young entrepreneurs.”
The next deadline is March 15, 2025.
The awarded grants are a testament to the potential of Oakland County’s youth to inspire and drive change within the community. It specifically excludes funding for tuition, ongoing expenses, sporting equipment, or team registration fees.
To learn more about each of the winners and their projects or business, follow Acorn2Oak on Facebook or Instagram.
About Leadership Oakland
Since 1990, the Leadership Oakland Cornerstone Program has brought together more than 1,500 leaders from corporate, civic, and non-profit organizations throughout the community. Graduates of the program have put their knowledge and network to work by becoming key contributors in their communities and places of business.
Our goal is to take developing leaders and provide them with a rich network of colleagues, a deep understanding of the region’s challenges, and the opportunity to achieve value for their own organizations, creating new levels of leadership. Through Leadership Oakland, today’s leaders will grow in their personal, professional, and public leadership ability.
About Acorn2Oak
The Acorn2Oak program is an initiative administered by Leadership Oakland, supported and founded by Oakland County, to provide grants to young individuals ages 8-18. It’s designed to support their business ideas, community initiatives, educational pursuits, and extracurricular activities.
