President Obama Praises Fremont High School Student In Back-To-School Speech

FREMONT (KCBS) - Mission San Jose High School senior Will Kim never expected a dodge ball tournament to raise money for a low-income student trying to start a t-shirt business to catch the attention of the White House.

But President Barack Obama cited the 17-year-old as an example of a young person who is making a difference now.

"He's creative. He took initiative, and now he's helping other young people be able to afford the schooling that they need," President Obama said Wednesday in his third back-to-school speech.

Kim's company, Happy Day Microfunds, helps other aspiring entrepreneurs access capital and develop a marketing strategy to start a company.

"We provide them with the amount of money we think they need," Kim said, a small amount of money anywhere from $100 to $1,000.

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

As President Obama noted in the speech, the loan money comes from small scale fundraisers such as a capture the flag game that seem unlikely to register in the Oval Office.

"I didn't feel like I did much, but somehow the White House managed to see it," Kim said.

The call his principal got on Monday seeking permission to be mentioned in the speech took Kim completely by surprise since he never tried to contact Washington D.C.

Since its inception in 2010, Happy Day Microfunds has helped launch a couple of clothing companies, including a beaded belt maker who bought the materials for her first batch of products with a loan from Kim's company.

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