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Innovation Challenge to award $7,000 cash prize to the winner

TAMPA, FLA.  July 1, 2019 — Synapse Florida, in partnership through a grant provided by the SunTrust Foundation, is empowering Florida’s most innovative and talented minds to solve today’s business challenges. Back in June, Synapse announced that the SunTrust Foundation would support challenges on behalf of two nonprofit organizations and one for-profit company. After dozens of submissions by local businesses and organizations, Synapse is proud to announce the following winners who will pose a challenge their organization is facing to the innovation community of Florida.

Challenges will be launched on behalf of the following nonprofits:

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Goodwill-Suncoast seeks not only to maximize the value of donations sold in stores but to operate as efficiently as possible.

YMCA of the Suncoast is seeking solutions to modernize t heir tracking systems for the community health programs they offer throughout the Tampa Bay region.

Orlando-based AireHealth has developed an innovation solution to combat respiratory illnesses. They recently won first place in the Rise of the Rest Orlando pitch competition, which is supported by the Revolution fund led by AOL Co-Founder Steve Case. AireHealth is challenging the community to develop an application to accompany one of their new medical devices.

“Now is when these challenges really get exciting. Over the next eight weeks, we’ll have the brightest and most dynamic talent across the state looking for new and exciting solutions to these challenges,” says Brian Kornfeld, president of Synapse Florida. “The cash prizes are certainly a motivating factor, but the opportunity to change an industry, directly impact our community, and possibly even create new jobs and businesses is where we all win.”

All interested problem solvers, thinkers, creatives, and innovators are invited to submit their solutions on the Synapse website at https://synapsefl.com/suntrust/ by Sept. 6, 2019.

About Synapse Florida

Synapse Florida is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that connects entrepreneurs, talent, investors, corporations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to accelerate success in Florida’s thriving economies.

About SunTrust Foundation

The SunTrust Foundation is committed to SunTrust Bank’s (NYSE: STI) purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being by engaging with local and national organizations to advance financial confidence. Grants and activities focus primarily on financial education, financial counseling, career readiness and Established in 2008, the SunTrust Foundation has proudly provided grants totaling more than $170 million throughout the United States.

About Goodwill-Suncoast
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training and job placement for people with disabilities, a children’s literacy program, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.