DoSomething.org COO Selected as Youngest 2012 Honoree in Crain's New York Business 25th Annual '40 Under 40' Issue

NEW YORK, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This week Aria Finger, COO of DoSomething.org, the largest US organization for teens and social change, proves Millennials have the ability to make big things happen. Selected as a 2012 honoree for the Crain's New York Business "40 Under 40" award, she also graces the cover of the 25th annual issue – tongue ring and all.

Aria started working at DoSomething.org in 2005 after graduating from Washington University in St. Louis. In just five years, she rose from Associate to COO of the organization. Under her leadership, DoSomething.org's corporate funding more than tripled from 2007 to 2011, and she increased annual teen participation over 400%.

"I feel both excited and undeserving," says Aria. "Working at DoSomething.org is amazing because I'm involved with teens who do real things to impact social change. In the last year our members gathered 1.3 million pounds of food for the hungry, conducted 1,200 bone marrow drives, collected 1.2 million pairs of jeans for homeless teens, and more. Being part of this equation is the most important thing I do."

Turning 30 next year, Aria is the youngest person in the 2012 class of "40 Under 40," but she is one of the oldest employees at DoSomething.org. "We really put our money where our mouth is," says DoSomething.org's CEO and Chief Old Person, Nancy Lublin. "As an organization for teens and social change, we have to think young and act young. Aria is proof that you don't have to be a 50 year-old father of three to make things happen. As COO, she has half the company reporting to her and is responsible for all the campaigns we run, most marketing partnerships and all corporate revenue."

Most recently, Aria was named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in their NY hub and was one of 70 people under the age of 30 globally selected to attend the 2012 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. She also is an adjunct professor at NYU, helping to mold future generations of edgy do-gooders by teaching the Business of Not-for-Profit Management.

In true DoSomething.org style, we're celebrating with a 'top 11 facts about Aria Finger (and why she is awesome)' list:

1. She was born on New Year's Day (currently 29, she is this year's youngest "40 under 40" honoree)
2. After going off on a rant in a class during 11th grade, someone wrote "COMMUNIST" in chalk on her locker (she cried classless tears)
3. At the age of 24, she cold-called her way to six-figure partnerships with top corporate brands
4. Her dad, a hippie activist who always stands up for what's right, was arrested for protesting the Vietnam War
5. At 6 feet tall, she is the shortest member of her family
6. Her little brother is a professional basketball player in Japan (he is 6'9")
7. During her interview process at DoSomething.org, she had to do a PowerPoint presentation about why she should be hired (it worked)
8. She's running in this year's Mohawk Hudson Valley Marathon
9. She is a professor at NYU
10. Her tongue is pierced
11. She was valedictorian of her high school

See more about Aria in her "40 Under 40" profile: http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/40under40/profiles/2012/aria-finger. To learn more about DoSomething.org visit www.dosomething.org or text "JOIN" to 38383.

About DoSomething.org:

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired...and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn't require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the US for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.  

About Crain's New York Business:

Crain's New York Business provides news, information and connections on all facets of New York through the prism of business. Crain's New York Business is the leading source of information on the New York economy, the companies and industries that operate here, and connections between government and industry. Crain's New York Business publishes daily news coverage on crainsnewyork.com, weekly coverage in print, and two specialized online daily reports—Insider and Pulse—providing scoops and inside information on politics and health care. Readers come to Crain's New York Business for in-depth coverage of the many industries that make up the fabric of New York's business community.

SOURCE DoSomething.org