Industry Leaders in Finance, Engineering, and IT, Will Be Spotlighted for Their Commitment to Ensuring Future Readiness for the Next Generation of Leaders
(May 08, 2024 – New York, NY) – NAF, a national education nonprofit, which supports high school students’ efforts to be future ready, will be holding its 20th annual Benefit on Wednesday, May 8th, at Metropolitan Club in New York. This year, NAF is proud to honor partners KPMG LLP with the Corporate Citizen Award and RTX with the James D. Robinson III Award for Corporate Innovation.
With its more than a decade-long partnership, beginning in 2010, and supporting 14 markets, KPMG and NAF have been committed to developing a more diverse workforce pipeline of professionals and have been actively engaged in various initiatives aimed at enhancing NAF’s Academy of Finance curriculum and amplifying outcomes-driven work-based learning opportunities for today’s high school students. Since 2011, KPMG has provided close to 800 internship opportunities for NAF students across the firm and will continue to collaborate on offering meaningful work-based learning opportunities to NAF students in the coming years. Vice Chair – Talent and Culture at KPMG, and NAF Board Member, Sandy Torchia, will accept the award on KPMG’s behalf.
“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of KPMG,” said Torchia. “This underscores our commitment to fostering a more diverse pipeline of talent and creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of leaders. We are grateful for NAF’s collaboration and remain dedicated to empowering students with future-ready skills through our partnership.”
The partnership between NAF and RTX inspires thousands of students from under-resourced communities to pursue careers in technology and engineering. Under the leadership of RTX’s Executive Chairman and NAF Board Member, Gregory J. Hayes, the company first partnered with NAF in 2008 to establish the Academy of Engineering and Green Technology in Hartford, CT. Since then, their partnership has expanded to implement industry-proven STEM programs in under-resourced public high schools in 30 NAF Academies across the country, including in Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., Compton, CA, Carrollton, TX, Palm Beach County, FL, and beyond. Since 2019, RTX has provided internship opportunities to over 500 NAF students and supported more than a thousand FIRST robotics and tech challenge NAF students through sponsorships and mentors. Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Pamela Erickson, will accept the award on RTX’s behalf.
“The world’s toughest challenges require focus, creativity, grit and determination; NAF advocates, educators, students, and corporate partners are united in delivering the resources needed to make today’s youth Future Ready,” said Erickson. “Together with NAF, RTX is committed to breaking barriers and ensuring bright futures for the innovators of tomorrow.”
The Benefit will celebrate nearly 45 years of transforming the high school experience and provides an opportunity for supporters to meet the outstanding students and alumni at the heart of NAF’s mission. High school students and educators will be in attendance and present their work-based learning projects – demonstrating how they have used their classroom and real-world experiences to prepare for college and careers.
NAF Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Dughi, said, “Our annual Benefit is the perfect time to come together and celebrate the very best of the NAF Network! We are proud to honor both KPMG and RTX for their support of our mission and helping to advance this important work even further. This special event is also an important opportunity to highlight our talented students and the impressive contributions that they are making. We thank all our stakeholders for joining us and taking this opportunity to network, share best practices, and make new connections.”
The event will also honor the life and legacy of 43-year NAF Board Member, respected business leader, and former American Express CEO, James D. Robinson III, who recently passed away. Robinson fiercely understood the role business could play in shaping the future workforce and was a committed supporter and advocate of NAF. Under his direction, American Express became one of NAF’s founding donors, helping to launch the first NAF Academies of Finance and Hospitality and Tourism.
This annual signature event highlights the tremendous collaboration between industry and education, that drives NAF’s innovative programming and improves outcomes for over 113,000 students annually and will offer opportunities for fundraising and donations.
For ticket and sponsorship opportunities, click here.
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About NAF:
NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds. Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning. With the support of NAF community-based advisory boards, schools connect with the workforce to fuel shared progress—from creating culturally responsive curriculum and paid internship opportunities, to fostering innovation and building future-ready businesses. NAF helps students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and take part in hands-on, work-based learning unlike anything traditional public education systems can offer. NAF puts students on a path to achieving their full potential.
NAF has grown from one NAF Academy of Finance in New York City to hundreds of academies across the country focusing on growing industries including finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences; and support programs of study that are aligned with the National Career Clusters Framework. During the 2023-24 school year, over 113,000 students attended over 600 NAF academies across 34 states and territories. In 2023, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 89% of graduates planning to go to college. Learn more at naf.org and follow us on social @NAFCareerAcads.