Springside Chestnut Hill Academy alumna Nilah Jordan '20 recently donated $1,500 to Operation Smile to help pay for six cleft palate surgeries, antibiotics for 30 children, and a new exam station for the non-profit organization that provides life-saving reconstructive cleft surgeries. The funds represent the entirety of her profit from her entrepreneurial efforts nurtured in the school’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL).

For two years, Nilah worked tirelessly to launch an all-natural, organic lip balm company named Bee Kind Lip Balm which  featured three different flavors—lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus—each named for the essential oil used when making them. After toiling to perfect her formula, she sold her product at local shops and various craft fairs.

Nilah conceived of the project while a student in the sophomore capstone program of the CEL and then continued to pursue her passion in the venture accelerator, a selective extracurricular extension of the CEL that provides students the opportunity to connect with various mentors and investors, hire staff, file for trademarks and legal business entities, sell in the marketplace, and raise initial startup capital.

"When thinking about a problem to solve," explained Nilah, "I immediately thought about the lack of medical care in countries around the world. In America, we have access to well-known medical institutions that provide the best care possible; however, in many developing countries, this is not the case. I wanted to start a venture that created a social impact on the world."

Executive Director of CEL Ed Glassman reflected on Nilah’s perseverance, “I have been so impressed with Nilah's steadfast commitment to Bee Kind Lip Balm. It was wonderful to see this venture, like so many launched in CEL, fully devoted to helping those in need."