Mothers Can Raise Entrepreneurs

The impact of family on entrepreneurs like Richard Branson (Virgin), Arthur Blank (Home Depot and the Atlanta Falcons), Russell Simmons (Def Jam) and Kay Koplovitz (USA Network) is portrayed in "Lemonade Stories," a new film by award-winning film maker Mary Mazzio and Babson College.

(PRWEB) April 19, 2004--Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit is Lemonade Stories, a new film by award-winning film maker Mary Mazzio and Babson College, which profiles great entrepreneurs including Richard Branson (Virgin), Arthur Blank (Home Depot and the Atlanta Falcons), Russell Simmons (Def Jam) and Kay Koplovitz (USA Network, Sci-fi Channel).

These entrepreneurs share the secrets of their success and talk about the person who inspired them -- their moms. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways, learns lessons in risk-taking from his mother, Eve, a pilot during WWII. Billy Starr, founder of the Pan-Mass Challenge, is motivated by his mothers death from cancer to raise more than $100 million for cancer research. Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, learns from his mother that a widow with a young child can successfully run her own business. Kelly Reinhart learns from her mom (and dad) how to turn an idea into a million-dollar business while still in elementary school.

What is fascinating is that many of the mothers featured in the film were raised at a time when women were not expected to work. Yet all of these women were risk-takers and encouraged their children to take risks to achieve their dreams," Mazzio said. These moms also stood by their children later in life, in moments of failure and times of crisis. Richard Branson and Russell Simmons both claim they would have gone out of business, but for last minute loans from their mothers, who stepped up when no one else did."

Lemonade Stories will debut at Babson College (ranked No. 1 by U.S.News & World Report as the best college for entrepreneurship) on April 23, 2004 during Babsons 25th annual Founders Day celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, where the mothers featured in the film will be honored by Babson for their contributions to business. It also will be shown, as an example of the use of film in an entrepreneurship classroom, at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators, June 3-5, 2004, at Babson. (Public showing will take place on April 25, 4 pm, Babsons Sorensons Center for the Arts. Call 781-237-3329 or lemonadestories@aol.com for reservations. $10 adults; free for students.) The film will be aired nationwide on Friday, May 7th at 9pm EST on CNNfn.

Babson College is a firm believer that the entrepreneurial spirit dwells within everyone," says Babson College President Brian M. Barefoot. Lemonade Stories wonderfully depicts how that spirit can be nurtured and developed within the family. Just as we are honored to assist our students in shaping their entrepreneurial abilities, so too are we honored to be a part of Lemonade Stories."

For more information on the film and its entrepreneurs, please log on to www.lemonadestories.com or http://www3.babson.edu/Events/FoundersDay/

Mary Mazzio, herself an entrepreneur, former law firm partner, and Olympian (1992 Olympic Games - Rowing), wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning film A Hero for Daisy (hailed by The New York Times as a landmark film" and Sports Illustrated as fantastic") and Apple Pie (warm and illuminating...told with deftness and emotion...priceless"-The New York Times; fantastic"- National Public Radio; excellent" -- CNN). Both films aired prime-time, nationwide on ESPN (among other outlets in the US and Canada) and are in thousands of classrooms across the country. For more information about these films, please log on to www.50eggs.com. Mazzio, President and CEO of 50 Eggs, Inc., is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Georgetown Law School, and serves on several non-profit boards. You can contact Mazzio at 781-237-3329.

Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its innovative undergraduate program, and grants MBA and custom MS and MBA degrees through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson School of Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced managers worldwide. For information, visit www.babson.edu.