Unprecedented Generosity Fuels Dreams
Portraying a remarkable display of generosity and support for the next generation of leaders, Pinky Cole Hayes, the founder and CEO of the renowned plant-based food brand Slutty Vegan, surprised the graduating class of Savannah State University with an $8.75 million donation during her commencement speech.
Fostering Entrepreneurial Excellence
The donation, facilitated in partnership with Operation HOPE and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB), will provide the graduates with a comprehensive entrepreneurial starter pack, including:
- Entrepreneurial Educational Resources
- Mentoring from 1MBB, including one-on-one financial counseling
- An eight-week small business training course with business plan development and credit & money management courses
- Three months of free access to Shopify to build their e-commerce platforms for young entrepreneurs ready to start their businesses
A Beacon of Hope and Inspiration
Cole Hayes, who was honored as one of TIME’s 100 Next in 2023, has achieved remarkable success since founding Slutty Vegan in 2018. However, she has been transparent about the challenges she faced along her entrepreneurial journey, as shared in her book “I Hope You Fail.”
“I am passionate about lifting up the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of our world,” Cole Hayes said in a news release. “I know firsthand what it means to have mentorship and how someone believing in your dream can make a difference.”
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
In her commencement speech, Cole Hayes celebrated the resilience of the Savannah State University graduating class, who navigated their college years amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented events.
“This graduating class has experienced so much adversity. 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,” she said.
A Legacy of Empowerment and Upliftment
Cole Hayes’ generosity and commitment to uplifting young people extend beyond this significant donation. In 2022, she gifted the graduating class of her alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, with LLCs to begin their own businesses.
More recently, she sponsored the Benjamin E. Mays High School prom, providing free admission, attire, catering, decorations, and souvenirs for all students.
