Entrepreneur of Impact: Celebrating a Milestone with Daymond John’s Contest

Jessica Hawthorne named Group Finalist in Daymond John's 'Entrepreneur of Impact' contest.

This past April 2026, I was a group finalist in the 'Entrepreneur of Impact' contest created by Daymond John of Shark Tank. All proceeds donated through votes in the contest benefit GENYOUth, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit dedicated to helping school children thrive by living a well-nourished and physically active life. This incredible organization has supported over 77,000 U.S. schools. A cause dear to my heart as a former educator. This was an amazing learning experience for me as an entrepreneur as it showed who my true fans really are. It was refreshing and energizing to bring friends, family, co-workers and clientele together and inspire people I care about to not be afraid to dream big. This contest was a win for me regardless of the outcome.