RALEIGH – Two Raleigh small businesses just got a major boost from Lenovo on Monday.
During separate on-site visits, the PC giant surprised Black Dollar Corp., a Black-owned business directory and retail shop, and Sweet T Picnics, a woman-owned private luxury picnic service, with $5,000 in tech upgrades and preseason game tickets to the Carolina Panthers.
The cash injection is particularly noteworthy after Black Dollar Corp., led by Johnny Hackett, launched its “No Fee ‘Til 2023’ campaign this month.
“Support means we can then support thousands of local business owners and entrepreneurs, while also providing our community with more services through all of our platforms,” Hackett recently wrote in WRAL TechWire.
For Lenovo, it’s the second year running that it has partnered with the Carolina Panthers for its “Empowering the Carolinas” contest. Launched last year, it’s part of its Evolve Small campaign, which aims to uplift small businesses – especially those that are women and minority-owned – across North America through grant and product donations, mentorship, and community engagement activities.
In total, ten businesses were selected this year from a pool of more than 650 entries, following a public nomination process.
All received the same amount in tech upgrades and a shot at a major advertising opportunity. In addition, winners received tickets to the Panthers preseason game versus the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 26 and will be recognized on the field at halftime.
During that recognition ceremony, one of the 10 will be announced as the grand prize winner and will receive a $100,000 advertising package with the Panthers during the NFL season.
Lenovo is one the world’s top personal computer sellers. It operates one of its two global headquarters in Morrisville and maintains several other facilities in the Triangle, including its data center group. The other Lenovo HQ is in Beijing.
Raleigh’s #BlackDollarNC launches ‘No Fee ‘Til 2023’ campaign to cover costs for its members
