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How $20,000 grants from Intuit changed the lives of these small businesses
By Cemile Kavountzis, for Intuit
Small businesses across the nation play a vital — and often underrecognized — role in supporting their communities. For the fourth annual Small Business Hero Day, Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp celebrated their work, shining a light on their impact and introducing new efforts to help them grow. At Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, basketball legend Lisa Leslie presented this year’s $20,000 Small Business Hero Day grant to three winning business owners. The recipients — Perry’s Joint, The Homeless Garden Project and BJ’s Nevada Barbeque — were recognized for their commitment to their communities, each taking a distinct approach to giving back.
It takes a lot of grit, hard work, and tenacity — a lot of discipline — in order for us to be successful. You also have to be very resilient to have an amazing business.”
Recognizing that small businesses like these are committed 365 days a year, Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp also announced that Small Business Hero Day will now evolve into a year-long initiative, to celebrate even more small businesses across the country. The new Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp Small Business Hero Program will spotlight three small businesses each quarter, honoring them for their impact and awarding each business $20,000 and additional support to help with their continued success. The Small Business Hero Program is an exciting opportunity for anyone to nominate a local business that is near and dear to their heart, by sharing how the owners have made a positive impact, while demonstrating courage, perseverance, and integrity.
- Lisa Leslie, former professional basketball player
Here’s how the Hero Day recipients plan to use their grant to continue to progress their business and impact within their communities.
Perry's Joint
Perry Bennett, founder of Perry’s Joint in Pasadena, California
Perry Bennett
founder of Perry’s Joint
More than 20 years ago, small business owner Perry Bennett did the unexpected and opened a jazz-themed sandwich shop called Perry’s Joint in Pasadena, California. When wildfires swept through his community in January of this year, his business was one of the few left standing. For Bennett, it was a stroke of luck that only made his dedication to his neighborhood even stronger.
Over the years, his eatery has been a longtime favorite across generations, from high school students to longtime locals enjoying the nods to the jazz greats. However, it’s so much more than a cool place to hang out and order musically named bites like the Chicken Mingus or The Big Band. It’s an establishment that has helped college-bound students — dedicating one day’s annual earnings to provide scholarship to help local high school students pursue higher education.
- Perry Bennett, founder of Perry's Joint
I can’t do what I do without the community. That’s why I give back.”
Beyond dreaming up delicious sandwich combinations, he sees his mission as playing a role in launching the futures of local youth, whether it’s offering someone an after-school job or helping them pursue a degree.
HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT
It’s all in the spirit of small businesses helping each other.
Looking toward the future, they’re currently in the process of buying the land they’ve been farming for over two decades, and they’re producing a manual to help other communities who might want to launch similar projects.
- Darrie Ganzhorn, executive director at Homeless Garden Project
We depend on the community to make our business happen. It feels good to be honored and be seen in the context of a small business that is attempting to have more impact in the community.”
In 1990, a community garden on Pelton Avenue in Santa Cruz, California opened the gates to what would grow to be a three-acre urban farm now known as the Homeless Garden Project. Today, the nonprofit organization provides job training, employment opportunities and other services to individuals experiencing homelessness. They’ve also built a powerful bridge between the unhoused and housed individuals in their community, which increases understanding.
Executive director at homeless garden project
Darrie Ganzhorn
Darrie Ganzhorn, executive director at Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz, California
Their community-supported agriculture (CSA) model allows them to produce handmade items, such as candles and jams for sale, as well as grow fresh, organic produce that they can donate to individuals who might not be able to afford it. Last year alone, they delivered 14,000 pounds of healthy vegetables to those in need.
“We have an amazing team,” she said. “We’re providing the opportunity to the people that we’re serving on our crew, but they’re the ones who are doing the hard work of transformation.”
Volunteering allows him to reach kids who might not have otherwise had access to the training needed to succeed — and he knows firsthand how much a little support can make a big difference.
He himself has often helped raise funds through food truck events to donate to scholarships, education and equipment for culinary education in schools. To help the next generation of rising chefs on their journeys, he also contributes an even more valuable asset for a busy chef — his time — to expanding culinary education in the area.
- Jay Rathmann, owner of BJ's Nevada Barbecue
It [winning Small Business Hero Day] allows me to do more. It allows me to give back more."
Tucked in northern Nevada, Sparks is a growing city in the Truckee Meadows valley, where BJ’s Nevada Barbecue has been a cherished gathering spot for nearly four decades. While smoky delights might draw crowds, there’s more than meets the eye. Owner Jay Rathmann has been a tireless proponent for helping others achieve, from serving as president for the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation High Sierra Chefs Association to advocating for culinary and vocation programs in local schools.
OWNER OF BJ'S NEVADA BARBECUE
Jay Rathmann
Jay Rathmann, owner of BJ's Nevada Barbecue in Sparks, Nevada
BJ's NEVADA BBQ
Reflecting on what winning Small Business Hero Day means for him, he said, “It allows me to do more. It allows me to give back more. It allows me to do things that I might not have been able to do, if say, we had a short fall or the money wasn’t there, but now, I actually have it in hand.”
With the money he received as a Small Business Hero Day winner, Bennett plans to expand his vision with a summer program geared at helping teens work and make their summer jobs a reality. For students on the path to college, his assistance helps them head off on a high note. “Every day I get up to serve people,” he said.
Nominations for the Small Business Hero Program are now open, with three new winners selected each quarter receiving $20,000 grants each and additional resources to support their continued success.
To nominate a small business that is making a difference in your community for the next Small Business Hero Day awards, visit intuit.com/heroprogram.
Small Business Hero Day
Nominate a small business
To nominate a small business that is making a difference in your community for the Small Business Hero Program, visit intuit.com/heroprogram.
Nominate a small business
For small businesses, $20,000 is an amount that can truly make a significant impact — from the business owner to the employees and the communities they serve.
