SVI Alumnae, Vanessa LeBourdais, was featured today in the Vancouver Sun.

In the article "Actor Gets Down To Business", LeBourdais discusses the origins and progression of her DreamRider Theatre, which started as a series of community outreach plays in 2006. Last year, DreamRider performed for over 65,000 children and grossed $280,000, up from $41,000 in 2006. The Theatre also has 26 funders today, compared to just one in 2006. 

LeBourdais mentions the Social Venture Institute (SVI) at Hollyhock as a key factor in the success of DreamRider.

She says, "In 2009, [I] stumbled on a Social Venture Institute conference at the Hollyhock retreat centre. It was pivotal. Not only did [I] learn to ask questions like “What is our unique selling proposition?” [I] found social validation and gained 25 advisers for DreamRider’s board. [I] discovered DreamRider’s ability to engage groups of children with “boring” subjects like garbage and transportation was marketable. [I] stopped going to workshops for non-profits and learned that applying [my] artistic creative impulses to business was an asset."

Full article can be seen here: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Actor+gets+down+business/6224746/story.html

Photo by: Glenn Baglo, The Vancouver Sun