Tri-County Business Leaders Join Forces to Leverage Support for Local High School Career Academies

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – Excitement ran high at the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale-Plantation Hotel last Wednesday as business leaders from South Florida's three major counties joined forces to address the need for expanded support of the National Academy Foundation's (NAF) local high school Career Academies.  This unique convening of business leaders and school district personnel, organized by NAF and members of the So. Florida Tri-County Advisory Board Steering Committee, agreed to collaborate on corporate engagement, communications, marketing, and advocacy, and to share best practices.

Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties have 58 NAF Career Academies that prepare thousands of high school students for careers in finance, engineering, hospitality and tourism and information technology.  As noted by NAF President JD Hoye, more internship opportunities and greater support from corporate partners based in the tri-county area are needed for the programs to continue to provide South Florida with highly skilled workers who are motivated to complete high school, and pursue a college degree.

The combination of a rigorous, relevant Curriculum, compensated Internships and local Advisory Boards has been a proven model of success in So. Florida since 1987. Major corporations in So. Florida such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Florida Power and Light, and Citigroup partner with local NAF Academies to secure internships, volunteer in classrooms, act as mentors and serve on local Advisory Boards.  NAF’s record of success with 90% graduation rates and more than 80% of these graduates going on to college, has also garnered the support of public policy makers, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"The National Academy Foundation is committed to working with our corporate partners in South Florida to increase high school graduation rates and to equip our students with skills they will need to succeed in the workplace," said Ms. Hoye.

The National Academy Foundation was created as a partnership between business leaders and educators to address the need to prepare students for professional careers. NAF was founded by Sanford I. Weill, Chairman Emeritus of Citigroup, Inc. NAF serves over 50,000 students in over 500 Academies around the country, most in urban schools. For more information, visit www.naf.org, or contact Charlie Katz, Director, Advisory Board Development, charlie@naf.org.