LAPLACE — LaPlace Lion’s Club members recently donated $300 to support the region’s budding entrepreneurs.

Lion’s Club President Woody Norsworthy and board member Lance Bonadura, Lion’s Club presented the sponsorship check to Annette Wray, chair elect for the River Region Chamber and Program Manager for YEA!, at the Chamber’s monthly meeting at Petra’s.

YEA! is a program that guides students through the process of starting their own real business, and the program will be accepting next year’s applications beginning June 1 for the class beginning in November.

“YEA! is such an integral part of our community to help young, business minded teenagers get a jump start on their business ventures,” Wray said. “We are thankful to our sponsors such as the LaPlace Lion’s Club since their contributions work towards funding the instruction, field trips, and start-up funding for the new businesses.”

YEA! takes students between the ages of 11 and 18 through the process of starting and launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year.

By the end of the class, students own and operate fully- formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program.

The program aims to teach students at an early age how to make a job.

“One of the most interesting components of the program is the actual behind-the-scenes knowledge the students are given from local business leaders, who were at one time, standing in their shoes,” said Chassiy McComack, executive director of the River Region chamber of Commerce.

“The experience is something they will be able to apply to whatever field they choose to enter, thereby giving them the necessary skills to become future leaders of industry.”