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    • Home
    • Shop
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
    • Designer portfolio
    • Upcoming events
    • Awards & Honors
    • Press
    • Press videos
    • Get my book
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Be The Change
    • Build-A-Bow for a purpose
    • Fan mail/ PR packages
    • How-to tie a bow tie
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Our Story
  • Meet the Team
  • Designer portfolio
  • Upcoming events
  • Awards & Honors
  • Press
  • Press videos
  • Get my book
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Be The Change
  • Build-A-Bow for a purpose
  • Fan mail/ PR packages
  • How-to tie a bow tie

Build-A-Bow

Build-A-BowBuild-A-BowBuild-A-Bow

Welcome to the COOLEST bow tie retailer on the market!

Welcome to the COOLEST bow tie retailer on the market! Welcome to the COOLEST bow tie retailer on the market! Welcome to the COOLEST bow tie retailer on the market!

Lifetime College Scholarship for Cardinal Stritch Award

Lifetime College Scholarship for Cardinal Stritch Award

Lifetime College Scholarship for Cardinal Stritch Award

July 2019, Cardinal Stritch University awarded Alex Hart-Upendo a Lifetime Full Ride Scholarship for the entirety of his life.


Press Link: https://www.boredpanda.com/formerly-homeless-autistic-child-entrepreneur-becomes-first-12-year-old-in-wisconsin-to-receive-a-full-ride-scholarship-to-college-for-the-entirety-of-his-life-blackexcellence/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic

Points of Light award

Lifetime College Scholarship for Cardinal Stritch Award

Lifetime College Scholarship for Cardinal Stritch Award

April 2019, Given by the points of light.


Press link: https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/hes-gone-from-bullied-to-bow-tied-with-a-purpose/

Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award

Lifetime College Scholarship for Cardinal Stritch Award

Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award

 February 2019- Given by Racine Civic center


Press links: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjfk6a1sKnjAhUKH80KHXf7CBoQzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffox6now.com%2F2019%2F01%2F20%2F12-year-old-who-turned-bullying-into-bow-tie-business-recognized-for-embodying-spirit-of-dr-martin-luther-king-jr%2F&psig=AOvVaw2-H_YlbSx352qlatu_0CDA&ust=1562814657401299


https://madison365.com/bowtie-entrepreneur-12-earns-mlk-civil-service-award-in-racine/


https://journaltimes.com/king-day-celebration-jan-at-king-center/article_4303367a-45d7-5acc-bf7e-e1915b09f3a7.html

Wisconsin INNO 25 under 25 list

Crowd Favorite "Peoples Choice" Award

Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award

2018- Alex Made Wisconsin's INNO 25 under 25 list 


Press link: https://www.americaninno.com/wisconsin/wisconsin-innos-25-under-25/

Project Pitch It "Stritch it" Award

Crowd Favorite "Peoples Choice" Award

Crowd Favorite "Peoples Choice" Award

2018- Given by Project Pitch it after competing in a pitch competition show. An award for Business education valued at $11,000. 


Press link: https://www.racinecountyeye.com/11-year-old-entrepreneur-to-compete-in-project-pitch-it/

Crowd Favorite "Peoples Choice" Award

Crowd Favorite "Peoples Choice" Award

Crowd Favorite "Peoples Choice" Award

2018- Given by Hatch during a business pitch competition 


Press link: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/judges-choose-freshex-in-hatch-challenge/article_f08363c3-c6a6-57f3-9a06-a068d1fe6cc9.html

Launchbox Accelerator Award

National Small Business Champions Award

National Small Business Champions Award

Build-A-Bow Competed in Gateways Launchbox Accelator against 6 other Entrepreneurs and came in 1st place for an award of $5,000


Press link: https://journaltimes.com/business/local/young-entrepreneur-wins-highest-seed-grant-in-business-pitch-contest/article_9cdd8810-1494-5078-a86b-7f1f1cc43376.html

National Small Business Champions Award

National Small Business Champions Award

National Small Business Champions Award

May 2018, GIven by SCORE & Sams club for best small business of Wisconsin. 


Press Link: https://biztimes.com/build-a-bow-and-compost-crusader-selected-for-american-small-business-championship/

Arts & Culture Award 2018

National Small Business Champions Award

Volunteer of the year Award 2018

April 2018, Given to Karee Upendo by the Racine Volunteer center for philanthropy through Arts and culture. 


Press link: https://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/volunteer-center-to-recognize-volunteers-at-luncheon/article_c3c7a642-c4f1-5d30-8358-0bfac225684a.html

Volunteer of the year Award 2018

Best Small Family Business Wisconsin special award

Volunteer of the year Award 2018

April 2018, Given by the Volunteer center of Racine  to Alex Hart-Upendo for his works through Build-A-Bow for the community. 


Press link: 

https://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/volunteer-center-to-recognize-volunteers-at-luncheon/article_c3c7a642-c4f1-5d30-8358-0bfac225684a.html

Incredible Kid National competition

Best Small Family Business Wisconsin special award

Best Small Family Business Wisconsin special award

 October 2017, Given by the American Egg Board and presented by Gold Medal Olympian Laurie Hernandez. 


Press Link: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/olympic-gold-medalist-honors-racine-s-bow-tie-kid/article_d6f062ab-69f7-51aa-adfd-55f9bc2bc5d5.html

Best Small Family Business Wisconsin special award

Best Small Family Business Wisconsin special award

Best Small Family Business Wisconsin special award

May 2017, Given by Smith & Gestland 

Two Senatorial Awards for Best Business Wisconsin

Two Senatorial Awards for Best Business Wisconsin

Two Senatorial Awards for Best Business Wisconsin

May 2017, Was Given two Senatorial awards for Best Wisconsin business by Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Ron Johnson.


Press link: https://familybusinessaward.com/2017-wisconsin-family-business-of-the-year-award-winners-announced/

Entreprenuer/Humanitarian of the year award

Two Senatorial Awards for Best Business Wisconsin

Two Senatorial Awards for Best Business Wisconsin

May 2017, Given by Ernst & Young 


Press link: https://www.cbs58.com/news/ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-celebrating-31-years

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award

Two Senatorial Awards for Best Business Wisconsin

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award

September 2017, Given by Gateway Technical College.


Press link: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/local-humanitarians-honored-at-mlk-event/article_a2449fb3-1aa1-54c4-9164-94cc81da3190.html

Apollo Award-New & Innovative Business

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievement

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award

10/16/2016 Given by RAMAC of Racine (Racine Area Manufacturer And Commerce) for best new innovative business. 


Press link: https://journaltimes.com/ramac-bestows-annual-business-honors/article_5e23b524-aef2-5332-8501-b989eedc435c.html

Holiday Proclamation

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievement

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievement

 9/30/2016 Given by the State of Wisconsin & Governor Scott Walker for the philanthropic efforts made by Build-A-Bow 

September 30th is known as Alex Hart-Upendo day. 

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievement

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievement

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Achievement

May 20, 2016 given by RUSD


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