The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation has just wrapped up its Junior Ambassador program and is about to end this year’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) program in May. Many volunteer their time and money to this organization, but what exactly does SBCF do for the community and its students?
“Our mission is to develop leadership, and part of that leadership is workforce for the community,” explained Gale Croft, executive director of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation.
There are currently six major programs the foundation works with the community and chamber on.
Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Students begin the 30-week YEA! program as just that, and end with a business of their own and CEO. Beginning in October, students attend class once a week for three hours — sometimes more depending on their business and mentor needs — and present to an investor panel in April. Students present their business plan and idea to local business owners and CEOs in hopes of receiving funding. Each student has a mentor in which they can seek guidance and advice throughout the program.

What all are the future CEOs learning?
“They learn everything you need to know to run a business,” Croft said. “They learn how to need to know to run a business, how to write business plan, getting a business license, taxes, accounting, insurance, parts of a business plan, researching their market, what their market is, who their market is, demographics, learn about cost of goods sold, economics of one unit … They really get down to the ‘knitty gritty.’ When I first learned about the program, it really is like taking a strategic management course.”
SBCC is the only chamber in Baldwin County that currently has the program. It is open to all students in all schools, sixth through 12th grade, that can make all the meetings. This year, students were from Baldwin County’s Virtual High School, Foley High School and Gulf Shores Middle School.
Junior Ambassadors
The Junior Ambassador program is a leadership program for juniors at Foley High School. In its 19th year, Croft explained that there are now students who were once Junior Ambassadors that are now giving back to their community.
“And that’s the whole point of the program,” she said.
Students learn about state and local government, economic development, environmental awareness and communications.
The juniors visit WKRG and iHeart Radio in Mobile for Communications Day and visit the state capital for State Government Day. Students learn about the senate and the sessions they have.
“This helps them become more aware of what’s going on statewide,” Croft said. “We combine Local Government Day with Economic Development Day, and take the students around to local businesses in Foley and introduce them to Mike Thompson, the city administrator for Foley. They get a broad spectrum of the community, how the state works and how they can fit in.”
Bridges to Success
This is an orientation program, designed for rising seventh graders and ninth graders. It’s a peer-to-peer program.
“So, when these students get to middle school or high school, they have link leaders that show them the ropes,” Croft explained. “These students tell them everything to know instead of a teacher or administrator talking to a class. We split them up so these incoming students can talk to these older students for the rest of the year.”
Teacher Student Grants
These grants are awarded once a year at the annual BBQ and Blues Cook-Off. These are grants for academic enrichment for Foley feeder pattern schools. These grants range all subjects and areas. This year, SBCF gave out 20 grants. BBQ and Blues Cook-Off in March and Night Glow Golf are the chamber foundation’s two largest fundraisers throughout the year.
Partners in Education
In its pilot year, Partners in Education, a program designed by South Baldwin Chamber Foundation and Baldwin County Education Coalition is bridging the gap between business and schools. Members of the chamber have long been contributors of time and talent, but the struggle has been communication. This program is designed to fix that.
Schools will have a wish list of volunteer opportunities, time or donations, that are needed, and then parents, community members or businesses can log on and sign up for what they can give.
“Our objective is to get all of that information ahead of time, so businesses and schools can prepare,” Croft said.
Croft is expecting the program will continue to improve and be in all schools by the next school year.
Leader in Me
Leader in Me started in the Foley feeder pattern at Summerdale School.
“We are working to be the only feeder pattern that has Leader in Me in every school in Baldwin County,” Croft said.
She estimates within two years, every school in the Foley feeder pattern will have Leader in Me.
“We help with the funding and training,” Croft explained.
The SBCF helps send teachers to training and raise funds where the schools may not have it. They’ve sent teachers to conferences, bought books for book studies and are helping send teachers to Camp Beckwith for training this year.
The schools SBCF helps are Elberta Elementary School, Elberta Middle School, Elberta High School next year, Foley Elementary School, Foley Intermediate School, Foley Middle School, Foley High School, Magnolia School, Summerdale School, Swift School, Snook Christian Academy and Saint Benedict's Catholic School.

For those interested in learning more about the foundation or how to give time or donate, visit SouthBaldwinChamber.com/South-Baldwin-Chamber-Foundation, or call Gale Croft at 251-943-3291.