frontlines
Tribute To Virginia
Tech Massacre Hero
To Be Held March 2
Started By
Teens, For Teens
Younger brothers take over
business that gives back to Detroit.
Jackie Headapohl
Managing Editor
Connor Tukel and Carter Altman's goal is to help
create more young entrepreneurs.
T
wo years ago, Matthew Tukel and Sawyer Altman,
students in West Bloomfield, teamed up to create an
energy drink company called 313Energy. Their mis-
sion was to help revitalize Detroit by donating a portion of their
proceeds to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.
This past fall, the two successful entrepreneurs went off to
college: Matthew to Wayne State and Sawyer to Stanford. But
before they left, they passed the torch of 313Energy to their
younger brothers: Carter Altman, 15, a sophomore, and Connor
Tukel, 16, a junior, who attend synagogue at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
"They didn't want to just sell the company or let it fall apart,
so we took it over:' says Carter, who lives in Birmingham.
"My brother showed me what to do. He and Matthew always
wanted to show that youth could do it without help, and now
that we've taken over, we want to reinstate that motto: Started
by teens, for teens:'
The younger brothers inherited a growing company. The
product, launched as a result of an entrepreneur club at their
school, is now in more than 80 stores and vending machines
throughout Metro Detroit. They demo their products at local
stores like Hiller's and Busch's markets as well as at specialty
events. They don't take a paycheck, preferring to focus more on
giving back to the community.
"We want to prove to everyone that even kids 15 and 16 can
run a business and succeed in things other than just school:'
says Connor, who lives in Franklin.
That's a message that Carter and Connor intend to share
JN CONTENTS
Feb. 20 - 26, 2014
I
with young people in Detroit. Last month, they met with Dr.
Glenda Price and Taylor Teasdale at the Detroit Public School
Foundation to present a check reflecting 11 cents of each of
the (more than) 11,000 cans of 313Energy sold in the past few
months. They also got the names and phone numbers of a few
DPS teachers who want them to come and speak to their classes.
"We look forward to going into the public schools, bringing
the students to demos with us and showing them that they can
start a business, too:' Connor says.
Carter adds, "We really want to get people in the mindset
that there are kids doing it and you can do it too. We want them
to grow up thinking this is something that's within their grasp:'
Their hope is to create other young entrepreneurs like them-
selves. Both boys say that their school, Frankel Jewish Academy,
has been very supportive of their efforts. The entrepreneur club
and running the company have taught them about business
and so much more. "It's teaching me how to go after my goals:'
Carter says.
Both Carter and Connor have a while before they head off
to college like their brothers. Unfortunately, there are no more
little brothers waiting in the wings to take over 313Energy.
"We're not sure yet what we'll do:' Connor says. "Hopefully,
we'll have employees and it will be a self-sustaining, Detroit-
based company:'
No matter what, adds Carter, "313Energy is going to be
around for a long time — even after we graduate:'
❑
To learn more about 313Energy drink, visit www.313energy.com .
theJEWISHNEWS
20-26 Adar I 5774 I Vol. CXLV, No. 3
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Columnists
Arthur Horwitz
Danny Raskin
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The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is
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n Monday, April 16, 2007,
amid a shooting rampage
that claimed 32 lives,
Professor Liviu Librescu chose to
sacrifice his life by holding the door
shut against the gunman, giving his
students time to escape their class-
room at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
On Sunday, March 2, at 1:30 p.m.,
Metro Detroit will have the oppor-
tunity to pay a
hero's tribute to
Professor Librescu
at Temple Beth El
in Bloomfield Hills.
.c
The multi-media
event — combining
drama, readings,
music, newsreels
Professor
and other media
— is organized
by local attorneys
Howard Lederman of Berkley and
Steve Kaplan of West Bloomfield.
"When Professor Librescu died,
his courage really struck a chord
with me," Lederman said. "When he
died, leaders and people from all over
the world, including the president,
acclaimed him as a hero. But after 10
days, he was lost in the news cycle. He
exemplifies the kind of leadership we
need in the world today"
The Professor Liviu Librescu
Community Tribute will feature two
dramas. The first will focus on the
Romanian Iron Guard, its super-
charismatic leader, Corneliu Zelea
Codreanu, its role in bringing on the
Romanian Holocaust and its impact on
young Librescu. The second will focus
on Librescu's loss of his University
of Bucharest research and teaching
position for his refusal to join the
Romanian Communist Party and his
application to immigrate to Israel.
The event also will include live
and recorded music, newsreels relat-
ed to his life and the Virginia Tech
massacre as well as readings related
to his life experience. Sponsors
include the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, BBYO, the
Hillel Foundation of Metro Detroit
and the Hillel Foundation of the
University of Michigan.
Sponsorship opportunities for
individuals, groups and organiza-
tions are available in any amount.
Those interested should contact
Lederman at (248) 561-0559 or
hylederman@wowway.com or
Kaplan at (248) 410-0919 or
attorneykaplan@aol.com . For more
information about the free event or
Professor Liviu Librescu, visit www.
LibrescuTribute.com .
❑
February 20 • 2014
3