Mirelli is so proud of member Kathy Trill and her company Palmetto Kids Cooking for being named one of the South Carolina winners of the SCORE Small Business Championship. Here’s the press release put out by SCORE.
Palmetto Kids Cooking Receives National Recognition as American Small Business Champion by SCORE
Summerville, SC ─ Local business Palmetto Kids Cooking has been chosen as a winner of The 2017 American Small Business Championship hosted by SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, and generously supported by Sam’s Club, a leading U.S. membership club serving small businesses since 1983. The Championship awarded this title to 102 entrepreneurs for their dedication to the success of their small
businesses. The American Small Business Champions will each receive a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card, an all-expense-paid trip to training and networking event, SCORE mentoring and publicity throughout the year.
Palmetto Kids Cooking earned the title of American Small Business Champion by submitting an online application describing the most unique aspect of their small business that has contributed to their success, their positive impact on the community, and their plans to use the prizes to grow their business. Nominations which garnered at least 100 votes were then presented to a judging panel of small business experts that determined 102 winners including Palmetto Kids Cooking.
Many people thought that cooking classes for children was simply a cute hobby for owner, Kathy Trill, when she began holding classes for children ages 2–13 years old in December of 2015. Parents and caregivers soon began to see the value of the content being taught to their children in cooking classes and Camp Cook and Glow. “My mission from the beginning has been to fight childhood obesity, but it has been difficult to make people understand that this is a calling for me, not a hobby,” Trill said. “We teach the basic life skill of cooking to kids, and we empower them to make good choices. Kids love to create tasty and healthy meals for themselves and their family members. The whole conversation about food has changed in some local households because of our kids cooking classes.” Trill continued, “Children as young as seven are reading labels and putting unhealthy food back on the shelf. It tickles me when a parent asks, ‘How did you get my child to eat black beans?”
Changing people’s perspective was the least in the line of obstacles in 2016 for the owner of Palmetto Kids Cooking. Aside from cash flow issues and scrambling to pay for class supplies and instructor fees (often out of her personal funds), there have been medical issues, and a heartbreaking blow with the death of her youngest brother in September. Today, Palmetto Kids Cooking partners with Healthy Hands Cooking, Wings for Kids, City of Charleston – Hazel Parker Recreation Center, and Berkeley County First Steps to teach children and families about the health benefits of plant-based nutrition in fun and creative ways. Trill gives back through volunteering as a culinary instructor for Lowcountry Food Bank Cooking Matters. She and her team are working on specific programs for preschool, elementary, middle school, high school and dorm room living. They will continue standard classes, Camp Cook and Glow, as well as birthday parties and mystery box challenges for return students in the advanced classes.
“It is by the grace of God that we are still serving others, which only makes us stronger. Thank you to our wonderful community both locally and online for supporting us and helping us succeed. This would not have been possible without you.” says Kathy Trill, owner of Palmetto Kids Cooking.
“SCORE is very pleased to honor the hard work and accomplishments of these 102 small business owners. They come from all across the United States, and provide diverse products and services for their clients, but all share in their dedication to making their dreams a reality,” said SCORE CEO Ken Yancey. “It is our pleasure to provide the mentoring, tools and resources that will help them continue to grow their businesses and enhance the communities they serve.”
“At Sam’s Club, we proudly support and celebrate the unique experience of the small business owner,” said Tracey D. Brown, senior vice president of operations and chief experience officer at Sam’s Club. “We are inspired daily by their ability to navigate challenges and triumphs on the road to success. And now, hopefully, the rest of the nation will be, too, as they get to know some of the nation’s most promising small business owners.”
Palmetto Kids Cooking is also eligible to win one of three additional $25,000 grand prizes by being named Grand Champion. A judging panel of small business experts will select three Grand Champion from the group of Small Business Champions this summer. Selection is based on how effectively Champions utilize the Sam’s Club gift card and the SCORE regional training events to grow business revenue, as well as how effectively the winners promoted the Championship in the media and social media.
To learn more about The American Small Business Championship and to view the complete list of Champions, visit www.championship.score.org.
To find out more, visit Palmetto Kids Cooking.