HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), a business boot-camp that teaches qualified Texas prisoners real-world business skills, announces that Welcome W. Wilson, chairman of GSL Welcome Group LLC, will deliver the keynote address at the organization's 2013 eSchool Graduation Dinner on September 24, 2013, presented by Amerisource Funding.

"Mr. Wilson is a living legend in the Texas business community," says Jason Floyd, Managing Director of Amerisource Funding. "We are honored he will join us to celebrate the accomplishments of PEP's graduates and to inspire them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams."

Mr. Wilson is the former Chairman of the Board of Regents for the University of Houston. In 2011, he was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame and he was named the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Houston Technology Center. A veteran who served in the Korean War, Mr. Wilson also served in the Executive Office of the President under Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy during the 1950's and 1960's.

After his presentation, diplomas will be presented to over 40 graduates of PEP. These men are former inmates who began transforming their lives while still behind bars through PEP's in-prison business plan competition.

"After their release, these men reestablished their lives in the free world and dedicated themselves to continuing their education through our Entrepreneurship School that meets every Tuesday evening in Dallas and Houston," explains Bert Smith, CEO of PEP. "We are now celebrating their completion of this second step in their journey from inmate to entrepreneur."

The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at the Petroleum Club at 800 Bell St, Houston, TX 77002.

ABOUT PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM:

Established in 2004, PEP is a Houston-based nonprofit that transforms inmates and executives by unlocking human potential through entrepreneurial passion, education and mentoring. PEP's graduates have a 100% employment rate and have launched over 125 businesses. www.PEP.org

About Amerisource Funding:Founded in 1984 and based in Houston,  Amerisource is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent commercial finance companies in the country.  Amerisource provides working capital financing and outsourced receivables management to companies with financing needs from $50,000 to $10,000,000.  www.AmerisourceFunding.com

CONTACT:Jeremy Gregg, Chief Development Officer, PEP214.727.9829, JGregg@PEP.org

SOURCE Prison Entrepreneurship Program

RELATED LINKShttp://www.PEP.orghttp://www.AmerisourceFunding.com