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History

A High Vision, A Deep Impact

“If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; If you teach him to fish, he will eat all his life. But if you teach him to sell the fish he will provide for his family and be self-sufficient.” (Old adage adapted by Stephen Gibson)

Our History

The Academy For Creating Enterprises started with a school in the Philippines designed to teach entrepreneurship and help those with low income become self-reliant. In addition, The Academy started business support groups called chapters where people could meet monthly in their communities’ Latter-Day Saint chapels to discuss business principles. These chapters provide continued training, support, networking and peer-to-peer mentoring to graduates of the Academy.

Stephen and Bette Gibson (second and third from the right) with the first graduates in the Philippines in 2000.

 The Academy expanded to other countries and now has 413 chapters.

        Philippines: 180

        Mexico: 95

        Peru: 99

        Venezuela: 24

        Brazil: 15 

 The Academy has over 16,000 successful graduates — 73% of them are successful business owners and financially stable. Due to the needs of the graduates, the Academy has implemented many training programs such as: an internship/mentorship program, online marketing through a business directory and Academy Awards (an event that praises the achievements of our graduates). The Academy continues to work closely with the self reliance department in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to help alleviate poverty.  

Any support donated goes to help fund these programs and chapter members worldwide.