By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
June 18, 2007

In 1960, John F. Kennedy addressed students on the steps of the University of Michigan Union, challenging them to give two years of their lives to help people in countries of the developing world. From that inspiration grew the Peace Corps, an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

In that same vein, 46 years later, George Cloutier, Founder and CEO of American Management Services and PartnerAmerica Chairman, challenged the students in Tulane University’s “Rebuild New Orleans” MBA class to give their time to aid the redevelopment of New Orleans, earning him the title of Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship and the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.

This challenge, coupled with Cloutier’s idea to create a Peace Corps'style organization and his generous $20,000 donation made on behalf of American Management Services and its employees in 2006, set into motion the development of IDEAcorps, a partnership between Tulane University and The Idea Village for civic and business-minded college students and graduates that helps small business owners rebuild in the wake of a tragedy.

According to Tim Williamson, President and Founder of The Idea Village, “We firmly believe that recruitment, engagement and retention of talent are the critical ingredients to sustaining the long-term revitalization of New Orleans. The IDEAcorps program, seeded by George Cloutier, directly engages local and national University talent in the revitalization of New Orleans entrepreneurial ventures by providing direct strategic assistance,” said Williamson. “We look forward to expanding upon the success of the IDEAcorps program as we continue to engage this national network of bright, motivated individuals. It is this talent that will ultimately pay long-term dividends to our community.”

Cloutier’s challenge to Professor John Elstrott’s MBA students also resulted in additional funding for the program, including support from students’ own businesses and employers. To date, more than $1.5 million has been raised to support the IDEAcorps program and provide direct assistance to 100 New Orleans-based entrepreneurs in 2007-2008. As of March 2007, more than 54 local and national students are participating in the IDEAcorps program, including those studying at Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University.

“When George visited Professor Elstrott’s class in January of 2006, we had just returned after Katrina, and were working to try to solve the problems in New Orleans,” continued Williamson. “While everyone’s attention turned to immediately improving the housing situation, we were looking toward the long term, and rebuilding the once very strong business community. George’s proposal of IDEAcorps, essentially the Peace Corps of entrepreneurship, was the perfect solution to bringing back civic-minded people – the only way to get the local economy up and running again.”

“What began as a classroom idea and a $20,000 seed has blossomed into an initiative that has endless opportunities for rebuilding areas around the country,” said Cloutier. “Programs like IDEAcorps bring hope to struggling communities, providing the building blocks for a new start, and I am truly honored to be a part of it.”