San Diego’s business leaders are taking their entrepreneurial spirit to new heights—or should we say, depths? On August 24, fifteen intrepid members of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization San Diego Chapter (EO San Diego) traded their business suits for harnesses and helmets.

Their mission? To rappel down the towering 35-floor Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, all in the name of supporting first-generation college students.

This daring feat was part of the ‘Over the Edge‘ event, a collaboration between EO San Diego and Reality Changers, a local nonprofit dedicated to preparing youth to become first-generation college graduates.

The result? A whopping $25,000 raised to support education equity and create opportunities for underrepresented students.

Pushing Limits for Limitless Potential

The event aligns perfectly with EO San Diego’s 2024-2025 theme of ‘limitless,’ which encourages entrepreneurs to push beyond their comfort zones. And what better way to embody that spirit than by dangling from one of San Diego’s most iconic buildings?

Anna Crowe, EO San Diego’s new president and CEO of Crowe PR, who also took the plunge, explained, “Reality Changers is an incredible organization that works tirelessly to create limitless opportunities for first-generation college students, which made this collaboration timely and powerful for us at EO San Diego.”

A Meeting of Minds and Missions

EO San Diego, part of a global organization with 18,000 members worldwide, has been helping business owners reach their full potential since 1987.

With over 200 members in San Diego County alone, representing businesses with average revenues surpassing $6M, their participation brought significant weight to the fundraising effort.

On the other side of this dynamic duo, Reality Changers has been changing lives by supporting students from backgrounds typically underrepresented on college campuses.

Their annual ‘Over the Edge’ event challenges participants to raise at least $1,500 for the privilege of rappelling down the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Tamara Y Carver, President & CEO of Reality Changers, shared her excitement: “We look forward to Over the Edge every year. We know that rappelling down the side of a building might be a little intimidating, but we’re great at guiding people through challenges; we help youth step out of their comfort zones to seize new opportunities every day!”

More Than Just a Thrill Ride

While the sight of business leaders scaling down a skyscraper is undoubtedly thrilling, the real impact of this event goes far beyond the spectacle.

The $25,000 raised will go directly towards supporting programs that help underrepresented youth navigate the path to higher education and become changemakers in their communities.

For the entrepreneurs who participated, it was a chance to literally and figuratively see their city from a new perspective while making a tangible difference in the lives of San Diego’s youth.

As Anna Crowe reflected, “Participating in Over the Edge alongside our EO San Diego members and the Reality Changers team was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we are grateful to Reality Changers for this collaboration.”

Join the Movement

Inspired by these daring entrepreneurs? You don’t have to rappel down a building to make a difference (though we won’t stop you if you want to!). Visit here to learn more about how you can support first-generation college students in San Diego.

And for all you business owners out there looking to push your own limits while making an impact, check out the website here to learn more about joining the Entrepreneurs’ Organization San Diego Chapter.

Who knows? Maybe next year, you’ll be the one taking that leap for education!