KNOCKOUT ENTERPRISE
OK enterprise is built for social impact. It is our purpose to create opportunities for Warriors to showcase their abilities in a work environment that fosters growth, interdependence and empowerment.
A social enterprise is a business created to further a social purpose in a financially sustainable way. At Opportunity Knocks, we created our social enterprise for two primary reasons:
Self Sustainable
To augment the revenue stream from our programs so that we would become more financially self-sustaining.
Warrior Opportunities
To provide opportunities for Warriors to practice important vocational skills in a meaningful employment setting.
OK enterprise is built for social impact. It is our purpose to create opportunities for Warriors to showcase their abilities in a work environment that fosters growth, interdependence, and empowerment.
OK maintains 3 initiatives under the umbrella of our social enterprise programming. These 3 initiatives aim to sustain meaningful and gainful vocational skill-building opportunities and jobs for the Warriors, while also producing a revenue stream to support the organization’s programs. The Knockout Brand currently features Knockout Pickles, the Knockout Catering Company, and the Knockout Farm.
Warrior Made, Warrior Approved
Knockout
Pickles
Knockout Pickles (KOP) is our artisanal pickle business that started in 2014. In addition to offering employment for our Warriors and a supplemental revenue stream to OK, we also set out to craft a really dill-icious pickle! Under the direction of our Culinary Director, Joe Hart, we developed a recipe, production method and canning technique that could be utilized by our Warriors and scaled as the business grew. In our first year, we sold 400 jars of pickles at special events and the holiday season. Today, we are selling bulk buckets to four restaurants as well as individual jars at four retail outlets in our local community.
From our farm to your table
THE KNOCKOUT
FARM
In the spring of 2016, we turned a weed-filled field off Madison Street into a lush, accessible urban farm. We affectionately call this outdoor oasis the ‘OK Farm’. When we initially conceived of the Knockout Farm, the primary purpose was to give the Warriors a role in the local sustainable food movement by creating a ‘seed to jar’ experience with our Knockout Pickle production. However, as the growing season unfolded, we quickly realized that this operation could feed our catering enterprise and provide a farm to table system within the Opportunity Knocks programming (cooking classes, lunch/meals, pickles) as well as throughout the local community in the seasons ahead.
Meaningful Work & Experience
Knockout
CATERING CO.
The KCC is a social enterprise of Opportunity Knocks, aiming to create and support vocational opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our Warrior employees team up with our culinary team to work on all aspects of the operation, from menu planning, food prep, setup, food service, and breakdown.
The KCC offers a variety of high-quality, hand-crafted culinary delights for small to medium-sized events. Net proceeds of the KCC go to support the programming of Opportunity Knocks. Click on to see if the KCC can cater your next event!