John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers celebrate 25 years with announcement of new donation
30 Sep 2021
News
"I dream all of the time. I want you all to know that ever since I've been a little boy, I dream about things that I want to do. I would dream about making money and dream about giving the money away; I dream about helping people."
John Pappajohn recounted the familiar story of the dream he had to make Iowa the most entrepreneurial state in the nation for the attendees of the Sept. 23 event honoring the 25th anniversary of the five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers.
Born in Greece and raised in Mason City, Pappajohn’s Depression-era upbringing required him to quickly learn independence and how to navigate adversity, instilling skills he would need for his entrepreneurial future.
After starting his own business out of college and later organizing Equity Dynamics Inc. and his venture capital firm Pappajohn Capital Resources, Pappajohn was prepared to act in 1996 when he first had the idea to start the centers.