Per Scholas Marks 30 Years of Unlocking Tech Careers, Honors Leaders from Comcast and Ballmer Group at Anniversary Gala

Celebrating three decades of bridging the opportunity gap, the no-cost tech training provider will honor key partners at its New York City anniversary gala

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Per Scholas, a national tech training nonprofit, today announced it will host Empowering The Future: Celebrating 30 Years of Unlocking Potential, its 30th Anniversary celebration on Tuesday, October 21 at Guastavino's in New York City. This milestone event will celebrate three decades of advancing economic mobility by providing access to high-quality, no-cost tech training to untapped talent. The gala will feature esteemed speakers and honor two key partners for their transformative impact:

• Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Impact & Inclusion Officer of Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, will be recognized for her transformative impact in corporate responsibility and for driving strategic initiatives that create opportunity in communities. This includes her leadership of Project UP, Comcast's $1 billion initiative to connect people to the internet, provide digital opportunity, and build a future of Unlimited Possibilities.
• Ballmer Group, co-founded by Connie and Steve Ballmer, will be honored for its commitment to improving economic mobility for children and families. Through their partnership, Ballmer Group has been a catalyst for Per Scholas' innovation and growth, enabling the development of immersive training models and the integration of cutting-edge AI and data center content into the curriculum. The award will be accepted by Terri Ludwig, Chief Executive Officer of Ballmer Group.

"Since its founding in the South Bronx in 1995, Per Scholas has been driven by a simple belief: that a thriving workforce begins with equitable access to opportunity," Plinio Ayala, CEO of Per Scholas said. "This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on our impact, highlight the incredible stories of our learners, and honor the invaluable partnerships that shaped our journey, while looking ahead to an even brighter future."

The evening will feature a keynote address from Rashaun Williams, founder and CIO of Harbinger Sports Partners, limited partner of the NFL Atlanta Falcons, and guest Shark on ABC's Shark Tank. Williams will be joined by esteemed guest speakers Ginni Rometty and Charles Phillips. Rometty is the former Chairman, President and CEO of IBM and Co-Chair of OneTen; she also serves on the boards of JPMorgan Chase, Cargill, and Memorial Sloan Kettering. Phillips is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Recognize and previously served as CEO of Infor, President of Oracle, and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley; he also serves on the boards of American Express, the Apollo Theater and more.

Event Details:

• What: Per Scholas 30th Anniversary Celebration
• When: October 21, 2025, 6:00 PM EST
• Where: Guastavino's, 409 East 59th Street, NYC

Per Scholas' 30th anniversary gala is presented by Comcast, with generous support from additional sponsors including Allstate, Amazon, EY, Guardian, TEKsystems, Apollo Global Management, Cognizant, Capgemini, CDW, Jean Hill and Larry Schultis, Dirk Manelski, Microsoft, Prudential, Ian Shrank and Alexandra W. Logue, S&P Global, Dana and Josh Lieberman, Lewis E. Miller, and PwC.

For more information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website.

About Per Scholas
As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward— expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we've offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

SOURCE Per Scholas