U.S. Chambers Campaign for Free Enterprise Announces Finalists of the ‘I am Free Enterprise’ Video Contest

USCC.jpgThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “I am Free Enterprise” video contest heads into its final stage of competition today, with the announcement of the contest’s five finalists: A Delicious Free Enterprise Contest Entry (Meredith Bragg, Alexandria, VA); Fall Stop…Move STRONG (Celeste Carlucci and Julie Kardachi, New York, NY); Tracy Foster is Free Enterprise (Tracy Foster, Bowie, MD); I am Carlos Sanchez and I am Free Enterprise (Carlos Sanchez, Maplewood, NJ); and Free Enterprise! (Jennifer Stewart, Brooklyn, NY).

The five finalists will be featured on the Campaign’s website—www.FreeEnterprise.com/video—beginning today and the public will have one month—through Wednesday, June 2—to vote for the videos that best bring to life the story of free enterprise.

“Each and every video that was submitted was innovative and succeeded in telling its own unique story of free enterprise,” said Stan Anderson, managing director of the campaign. “It was exciting to see the creative ways in which contestants interpreted the concept of free enterprise and used the power of digital media to drive interest and views. We appreciate all of the enterprising individuals who took the time to share their story and wish them all the best of luck with their future endeavors.”

One hundred thirty videos were submitted over the course of the first round of competition. Thirty of those moved on to round two for consideration by the Blue Ribbon Panel of judges. The judges met last week to deliberate and decide on the five finalists.

“All of the top viewed videos brought something creative and different to the table,” Mary Mazzio, lead judge, remarked. “The stories reflected such diversity—with innovative ideas, humor, the use of sophisticated animation—it was very challenging for us to winnow down the field to the five finalists. I look forward to the public voting period, and wish the finalists—as well as all of those who took the time to submit an entry—all of the best in the competition and beyond.”

The five finalists are competing for three cash prizes—$50,000, $30,000, and $20,000—as the American public votes for their favorite on the campaign’s website. The site will feature a leaderboard and post a daily tally of votes. Interested voters are allowed one vote per day through Wednesday, June 2, and an official determination, in concert with a third party auditing firm, will be announced on or around Monday, June 7. The contest will award the three cash prizes at formal events throughout the month of June.

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.