NAF Honors EMC and its CEO and Chairman, Joseph M. Tucci, at its 13th Annual Benefit

NAF hosted its 13th annual Benefit, an evening of celebration and recognition, at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City on June 1. Educators, students, business professionals, NAF staff, and guests all came together to honor EMC and its CEO and Chairman, Joseph M. Tucci. The benefit raised over $1.7 million to sustain NAF’s mission nationally.

NAF presented Mr. Tucci with the Corporate Citizen Award for his invaluable leadership, spanning almost 50 years in the information technology sector. He has also been an integral part of NAF’s board since 2013, and has provided his time and resources to inspire and prepare the next generation of future leaders. Prestigious companies like EMC have attested to the fact that NAF students are prepared for the more than four million positions at top companies across the country. Their involvement with NAF, and particularly NAFTrack Certified Hiring, is not only an investment in today’s students, but also for tomorrow’s workforce.

EMC advocates for preparing students for careers in STEM fields. This is an increasingly important topic, with occupations projected to grow by 17 percent from 2008-2018. As a leader in computer storage and data, champions K-12 STEM education by sponsoring challenging math, science, and engineering competitions; supporting creative resources for scientific inquiry with after-school programs and robotics; and partnering with non-profit organizations such as NAF.

“The easiest thing in life is to simply write a check,” said Mr. Tucci. “At EMC, we are proud to give of our time and build connections with these bright and talented students. If you give a young person an opportunity, as well as some structure and support, what they can accomplish is truly limitless.”

NAF President, JD Hoye, said, “It is such a special experience to come together each year to not only honor the business leaders who are making such a difference in the lives of our students, but to provide a forum for significant face-to-face time. We would like to extend our gratitude to EMC Corporation and Mr. Tucci for coming to meet our talented young people who represent the talent that our country needs, and we look forward to the beginning of some fruitful relationships as we all continue to work together toward the brightest future.”

EMC is one of nine founding partners of NAFTrack Certified Hiring — promising to give special consideration to job applicants who, as high school students, earned the NAF credential – and are a true differentiator in the hiring process.