(Credit: Katalinas Communications) Scott Robinson
Seventeen-million entrepreneurs achieve their dreams with help from SCORE
SCORE Bucks County is proud to celebrate 60 years of helping America’s small businesses launch, grow and thrive. The chapter provided nearly 2,800 mentoring sessions in fiscal year 2024 – a 20% increase over 2023 – and is on track to continue that upward trajectory as mentors guide business owners from Bucks County and eastern Montgomery County through every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
SCORE Bucks County volunteers helped spearhead the “One SCORE” Mid-Atlantic regional educational initiative, which resulted in 50 percent more workshop attendees receiving SCORE education services in fiscal year 2024.
“Since 1987, SCORE Bucks County has been proud to offer mentoring and education services to the Bucks County and eastern Montgomery County areas,” SCORE Bucks County Co-chairs Leah Cianfrani and Charlie Morris said. “Our 70 mentors bring broad business experience to bear on the local small business community. We’re excited to continue to serve our community as SCORE celebrates 60 years of service.”
Since the nationwide nonprofit organization began in 1964, more than 17 million entrepreneurs have received support from SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Today, SCORE has a nationwide network of more than 10,000 volunteers serving all 50 U.S. states and territories, guiding entrepreneurs on their path to success.
The world has changed significantly in the past 60 years, and so has SCORE. Originally a group of retired executives, the organization has expanded and evolved – today, half of SCORE’s volunteers are still actively working. Over the years, SCORE has utilized technology to offer on-demand online learning modules, remote mentoring, and specialized local workshops. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SCORE quickly pivoted to deliver 100% virtual mentoring and education, without missing a single day of service.
The organization has also grown to embrace diversity among clients and volunteers – 65% of SCORE clients are women, 46% are minorities, 13% have disabilities and 9% are veterans. Hear from SCORE clients about how they reached success through SCORE mentoring.
Combining entrepreneurial spirit and volunteerism, SCORE supports small businesses at every stage of business, including those that are just starting out. Last year alone, SCORE volunteers helped start 31,167 new businesses and create 152,115 total jobs nationwide, donating 4.5 million hours of service in the process.
SCORE is hard at work evolving operations, resources and volunteer training to support future generations of small business owners, providing expert mentoring and resources to help every small business owner address their unique business needs and challenges.
To learn more, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit https://www.score.org/buckscounty.
About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. With more than 70 members across Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties, SCORE Bucks County provides free mentoring services annually to local small business owners through one-on-one counseling and small business seminars.
