ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

November 21, 2024

2024 Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree the ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurial accelerator dedicated to providing economic development to veterans and underserved or disadvantaged individuals. Through its collective programs in the past year, the Institute provided 4,055 thirty-minute counseling sessions, created 498 new entrepreneurs, established 54 startup businesses, enabled 76 contracts totaling $13 million, and created 498 new jobs.

Despite a significant military footprint, Hampton Roads experiences significant challenges in social mobility and financial wellbeing. The Institute recognizes this and works to create grant strategies to assist these populations. These strategies include the Veterans Business Outreach Center and the Women’s Business Center as well as work to ensure that entrepreneurs are properly credentialed and positioned to compete for the abundant federal contracts in the region.

The majority of the Institute staff is minority and or former military and a gold-star wife is a program leader. Located in downtown Norfolk, the Institute provides underserved individuals with opportunity, education, training, respect, and sometimes just a hot coffee on a cold day. Though not everyone becomes a successful entrepreneur, the Institute works to direct clients to the resources they need to improve their lives.

Eddie Van Zandt

Story of Service: Eddie Van Zandt

Edwina "Eddie" Van Zandt serves as a Foster Grandma in the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program at Senior Connections. She first got involved with the Foster Grandparents program eight years ago, at the recommendation of her friend, Barbara, who also continues to serve in the program. “It’s been a joyful experience,” says Eddie. She recalls, “Barbara was talking about Foster Grandparents and I thought, 'well how do I get involved in that.' I've always worked with kids and even taught preschool so she got me interested and I got involved.” Since then, she has served in the day care...

Meghan McLees

Story of Service: Meghan McLees

Meghan McLees is an impressive student leader and role model for others. She cares deeply about helping others, inspires others to volunteer, and encourages them to pursue leadership in service. She has always been involved in service and enthusiastically dove in when she arrived at University of Mary Washington (UMW). She quickly became a student leader in several service organizations, including Circle-K and Alternative Service Breaks. Meghan also worked with a tutoring and mentoring program at her local homeless shelter, the Thurman Brisben Center. She is a member of a student-run service organization called COAR (Community Outreach and Resources) which...

Backpacks of Love Cumberland Elementary School Coordinators

Story of Service: Backpacks of Love Cumberland Elementary School Coordinators

Congratulations to Backpacks of Love Cumberland Elementary School Coordinators of Cumberland County -- winner of the 2017 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Educational Institution! Backpacks of Love, Inc., was born out of a personal mission from its founder Bobby Fulcher, who personally struggled with food scarcity while growing up. Backpacks of Love provides wholesome food to school children in the counties of Powhatan, Cumberland, and Buckingham, so that they don’t go hungry over the weekend. Backpacks of Love’s highly engaged board members collect all donations, distribute food items to schools, and solicit community and corporate sponsors....

Rosalie Chisolm

Story of Service: Rosalie Chisolm

Rosalie Chisolm joined AmeriCorps because she wanted to help underserved communities through meaningful service. She recalls, "I knew that in this work I would be able to directly see the impact that I was making on a daily basis and know that my service is meaningful and useful. This opportunity has allowed me to explore career paths, and has also developed my personal growth, resilience, and self-discovery." Though she originally wanted to serve in the Peace Corps, Rosalie found an AmeriCorps position at her university's career fair and decided to apply. She recalls, "When I found out that there was...

Karen Minter

Story of Service: Karen Minter

Karen Minter’s passion for education has been the guiding force behind her extraordinary volunteer contributions to the Deltaville Maritime Museum. As a former teacher, she has always been deeply committed to inspiring young minds, and since 2014, she has brought that same enthusiasm to the museum's Children’s Programs. Her teaching background fuels her mission to create engaging activities that captivate and educate visitors of all ages, fostering a lifelong love for maritime history and exploration. Her love for the museum, the staff, and its visitors keeps her coming back each year. Karen doesn’t just organize events—she pours her heart into...

Alex Vanik

Story of Service: Alex Vanik

Alex Vanik first got involved with service and volunteerism through Scouts, working his way from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout during his K-12 years. "I’ve walked so many paths as a volunteer," reflects Alex. "The most permanent impact I feel I've made would be my Eagle Scout Project. I worked with the PTO to raise funds, purchased materials, and recruited Scout volunteers to construct an outdoor stage at my local elementary school so teachers could use one of their courtyards as an additional classroom space." During his undergraduate studies at the College of William & Mary, Alex continued to be...

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