Eric Schaefer (middle) pictured with two UNI JPEC incubator tenants, Robert Sales, owner of Rob’s mini donuts (left) and Holis Wilson, co-founder of oldpeoplebrand (right).

The University of Northern Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UNI JPEC) has received a $100,000 gift from Eric and Kelli Schaefer. The donation will be used to support services offered to UNI student entrepreneurs to assist them in launching their new ventures.

Eric Schaefer, a 1991 UNI graduate in Finance and International Business, co-founded RedCard in 2006 along with fellow UNI alums Joe DiMartini and Dru Schmitt. RedCard is a healthcare technology firm  that provides communication management and electronic payment services  in the healthcare sector.  Prior to RedCard, Eric helped build Advanced Business Fulfillment, which was later acquired by WebMD.  Schaefer, an advocate for young entrepreneurs, will also serve the UNI JPEC students as a mentor.

"I am so excited to see the contribution and support from Eric and Kelli. Their support will allow student entrepreneurs like myself, start, manage, and maintain our businesses while in college" said Robert Sales, owner of Rob’s Mini Donuts and tenant in the RJ McElroy Student Business Incubator program at the UNI JPEC.

The UNI JPEC serves students interested in entrepreneurship through the center’s established applied and academic programs. The applied program offers three levels of service; networking, business support or physical incubation.  The academic program offered through the UNI JPEC and housed in UNI’s Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, includes a Certificate in Entrepreneurship or Minor in Entrepreneurship for business and non-business majors.