Pinky Cole’s Generous Donation
Pinky Cole Hayes, the founder and CEO of the renowned plant-based fast-casual brand Slutty Vegan, left the graduating class of Savannah State University speechless during her commencement address. In a remarkable gesture, she announced an $8.75 million donation in partnership with Operation HOPE and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB).
“I am passionate about lifting up the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of our world,” Cole Hayes said. “I know firsthand what it means to have mentorship and how someone believing in your dream can make a difference.”
A Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Starter Pack
The donation will provide each graduate with individual memberships to Operation HOPE’s 1MBB program, offering a wealth of resources and opportunities:
- Entrepreneurial educational resources
- One-on-one mentoring and financial counseling
- An eight-week small business training course
- Three months of free access to Shopify’s e-commerce platform
“This graduating class has experienced so much adversity,” Cole Hayes stated. “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.”
A Powerful Partnership for Black Entrepreneurship
The collaboration between Cole Hayes, Operation HOPE, and Shopify aims to nurture a stronger Black business ecosystem by 2030. John Hope Bryant, CEO and founder of Operation HOPE, commended Cole Hayes’ achievement and the partnership’s mission.
“Pinky Cole Hayes is a living example of what happens when a brilliant idea meets opportunity,” Bryant said. “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.”
