School House LLC Receives National Recognition As Outstanding Woman-Owned Small Business From SCORE Foundation Sponsored By Constant Contact

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rachel Weeks of Durham, NC and owner of School House LLC has been chosen as this years' recipient for the prestigious Outstanding Woman-Owned Small Business award given by The SCORE Foundation and sponsored by Constant Contact. SCORE, ( www.SCORE.org) mentors to America's small business, serves over 350,000 clients annually and honors their most successful clients at The SCORE Foundation's annual award ceremony celebrating excellence on Thursday, September 15th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Rachel Weeks and School House LLC will be honored for demonstrating unique vision, innovation and achievement as an Outstanding Woman-Owned Small Business.

School House LLC is receiving this award out of a group of hundreds of nominees based on their successful small business growth and successful community partnerships. Rachel Weeks' persistence in the field of "ethical manufacturing" caused her to take a risk in Sri Lanka on a quest to manufacture clothes in an ethical manner. The garment industry's poverty level wages paid to Sri Lankan's, rendered the working women unable to sustain themselves and feed their families. Using her business skills and business advice she received from SCORE, Rachel started her own factory in Sri Lanka and by 2010 Rachel had full-time employees in the U.S., and Sri Lanka. Today Rachel has moved all manufacturing operations to Wendell, North Carolina, where "School House" proudly produces apparel that is "Made in America."

SCORE CEO Ken Yancey says, "Despite a tough economic year, many small businesses were able to survive and thrive. The SCORE Awards celebrates and honors these successful and innovative entrepreneurs and the small business advocates who support entrepreneurship in America." Yancey adds, "It is important for us to recognize woman-owned small businesses, like School House LLC, that are supporting their communities through their success."

The SCORE Foundation President Mark Dobosz says, "In our third year of the SCORE Awards we look forward to honoring clients and supporters that inspire other small businesses as they proceed on their path to success. SCORE is honored to celebrate the people and businesses that fuel social progress and economic success in America."

Find out about this SCORE Success Story here: http://tiny.cc/9vne4

About SCORE: SCORE has helped create more than 90,000 jobs over the past two years. With a strong network of more than 13,000 volunteers with a wide variety of expertise from 364 chapters nationwide, SCORE volunteers provide entrepreneurs and small business owners free advice and low-cost local workshops. SCORE, a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, also offers free online resources, templates and tools to help entrepreneurs start and grow their business. www.score.org.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans and http://twitter.com/SCOREMentors.

About The SCORE Foundation: The mission of The SCORE Foundation is to support and leverage the work of SCORE by soliciting, investing and managing resources for the benefit of SCORE. Learn more about The SCORE Foundation at www.scorefoundation.org.

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