Top Business and Civic Leaders Gather to Celebrate and Support Public Schools

NEW YORK, June 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PENCIL, the leader in creating innovative and impactful models of collaboration between business and public schools, celebrated two New York City business leaders for their commitment to helping local schools and students reach their potential at The Power of Partnership: Annual Benefit Dinner yesterday at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.

New York City's business community raised nearly $1.5 million to support the organization's efforts to support public education. During the event, Mary Callahan Erdoes—who accepted the Power of Partnership award on behalf of JPMorgan Chase & Co.—challenged attendees and the City's business community to join the firm in providing students with essential college and career readiness skills through meaningful experience on the job.

NBC Weekend Today Show Anchor and Today Show correspondent Jenna Wolfe served as the evening's emcee, and welcomed local business leaders and philanthropists to recognize two dedicated honorees with the 2014 PENCIL Power of Partnership Award:  

• JPMorgan Chase & Co. has supported PENCIL for more than a decade by helping thousands of students develop the college and career readiness skills that they need to excel in higher education and the workforce. Mary Callahan Erdoes, Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, accepted the award on behalf of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• PwC works at 13 New York City schools through PENCIL to engage students through specialized curriculum that helps them develop critical college and career readiness skills and core competencies.  PENCIL Board of Directors member Mitchell M. Roschelle, Partner and PwC U.S. Real Estate Advisory Practice Leader, accepted the award on behalf of PwC.

The Benefit was chaired by PENCIL Board of Directors member and Rykom Enterprises Chairman & CEO Elliot Wahle, with co-chairs Christopher B. Hayward, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Highbridge Capital Management; Scott Metro, Partner, PwC; Joseph Oporto, Partner, PwC; Mitchell M. Roschelle, Partner, U.S. Real Estate Advisory Practice Leader, PwC; Craig Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer, J.P. Morgan Global Investment Management; and Lewis Warren, Jr., Global Client Executive in J.P. Morgan's Corporate & Investment Bank.

The program featured students from PENCIL Partner schools whose lives have been changed by PENCIL Partnerships and performances from the famous PS22 Chorus.

"PENCIL's business partners understand that a vibrant economy demands prepared graduates, and that they have a shared responsibility in providing students with the critical skills needed for college and career success," said PENCIL President David Weiner. "Honorees JPMorgan Chase & Co. and PwC are setting the corporate standard for that responsibility by providing thousands of students with the access, skills, and hands-on experience they need to excel in the workforce, college, and beyond."   

Working in the intersection of school needs and business expertise, PENCIL's programs target key focus areas—including college and career readiness, school leadership, and student and family engagement—that are proven levers for improving school and student performance. Throughout the year, PENCIL builds and supports school-business collaborations to meet school needs and prepare students for college and career success. Over the summer, selected high school students receive job readiness training and hands-on work experience through paid internships at local businesses.

PENCIL's programs operate in 300 schools that touch over 200,000 students throughout New York City annually:

• 90% of PENCIL Principals say that their partnership has helped to improve student performance or school climate.
• 82% of principals report they are more strategic in their decision-making to reach school goals.
• 88% of PENCIL students demonstrated an increased ability to connect academic experiences with the professional world.
• 94% of PENCIL Fellows say their internship and workforce readiness training experience helped them develop the problem-solving and teamwork skills they'll need to be successful on the job.

About the Honorees

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm, and is an international leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, and commercial banking. For more than a decade, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has worked with PENCIL to prioritize college and career readiness, and its 13 PENCIL Partnerships have helped thousands of students throughout New York City develop the skills and habits they need to excel in college and beyond. This summer, the firm will be hosting students at its offices and exploring employment opportunities for 40 Fellows at firms across New York City. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s support of PENCIL—which includes both financial assistance and the presence of Lewis Warren, Jr., Global Client Executive in J.P. Morgan's Corporate & Investment Bank on PENCIL's Board of Directors—has provided PENCIL with the leadership and guidance it needs to help schools and students reach their potential.

"We are delighted to support the great work of PENCIL, which is stretching boundaries to develop skills and foster the talents of our city's future leaders," said Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "Education is key to our country's success, and JPMorgan Chase is proud to partner with the New York City Public School System to prepare students for college and the workforce."

PwC
PwC is a professional services firm that is focused on making a difference for its clients, its people, the capital markets, and its communities. PwC supports PENCIL in every facet of the organization's work: Mitch Roschelle, a partner at PwC, serves on PENCIL's Board of Directors. Through PwC's Earn Your Future, a $160 million commitment to enhance the financial capabilities of students, he has helped to create 13 PENCIL collaborations that leverage PwC's curricula in our city's classrooms. PwC's curricula are composed of easy-to-follow lesson plans accompanied by interactive handouts and dynamic multimedia components, and provide students and educators with access to financial literacy education in topics that include Saving & Investing, Career Exploration, Planning & Money Management, as well as lessons focused on environmental sustainability. This school year, PwC's nearly 4,000 volunteers in the New York metropolitan market will commit over 50,000 hours across more than 350 classrooms for the benefit of more than 15,000 students.

"PENCIL has been a fantastic resource in our efforts to bring PwC's Earn Your Future initiative to schools across New York City," said Mitch Roschelle, Partner at PwC and New York Metro Leader of PwC's youth education initiatives. "PENCIL and PwC share a passion for helping improve the quality of education in NYC schools. Working with PENCIL, PwC has been able to help thousands of local students strengthen their understanding of personal finance and how to make smart financial decisions.  Each student's personal growth is so important to our community, to our future, and we look forward to continuing to team with PENCIL to deepen our impact."

For more information, visit www.PENCIL.org or call 646-638-0565.

Contact: Ben Lebeaux 
212-524-2381
[email protected]

SOURCE PENCIL