America Needs You

America Needs You
America Needs You
Formation 2009
Founder Robert Reffkin
Legal status Nonprofit Organization
Purpose Nonprofit organization
Headquarters New York, N.Y., U.S.
Region served
United States
CEO
 Marianna Tu[1]
Main organ
 Governing Board
Budget
US$2.8 million (2017)[2]
Website www.americaneedsyou.org/

America Needs You (ANY, formerly "New York Needs You") is a non-profit organization that provides intensive career development and transformative mentorship to low-income students who are the first in their families to go to college. Its model pairs students, called "Fellows," with young professional volunteer mentors who provide academic support, career counseling and professional development to students over the course of two years. Headquartered in New York City, the organization serves over 600 students annually at sites in California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York City.

History

America Needs You was founded in 2009 under the name New York Needs You by Robert Reffkin, while he was a vice president at Goldman Sachs.[3] Reffkin faced several challenges in his youth, but was aided by nonprofit organizations that helped him achieve college and career success. He founded NYNY at the age of 29 to mobilize a movement of young professional volunteers to assist low-income, first-generation college students in realizing their college and career ambitions.[4]

The NYNY program expanded to New Jersey in 2012, and America Needs You was launched in January 2014 as an umbrella organization. [5] In January 2015 America Needs You launched an Illinois office[6], and launched its first community college campus-based program in 2017 at LaGuardia Community College.[7] Since its inception the organization has served over 1,500 students nationwide.

Programming

America Needs You is a two-year fellowship program for low-income students who are the first in their families to go to college. The program model combines a series of career development workshops, intensive individualized mentorship, access to professional networks, and academic counseling to support students through college graduation and into their first careers. The program also provides students with professional attire, internship placement support, and job placement support.[8][4]

The organization has an annual gala that traditionally takes place in New York City.[3][5]

Leadership

Marianna Tu became CEO of ANY in 2018, with Reffkin remaining chairman of the board.[4]

Recognition

In 2014 America Needs You was recognized as a “ChangeMaker” by Ashoka, a network of social entrepreneurs committed to solving social problems. The organization has also been recognized by the Select Equity Group Foundation with its Excellence in Action Award, and as a New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Award winner for strong management practices.

In October 2017 America Needs You was featured in PBS’s “American Graduate Day” broadcast.[9]


References

  1. ↑ "ANY Staff". America Needs You. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  2. ↑ "ANY Annual Report 2017" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 "Young Wall Streeters at a Dinner for a Cause". The New York Times. October 10, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 David Zax for Fast Company. October 25, 2013 How A Darling of the New York Tech Scene Gives Back
  5. 1 2 Polya Lesova (January 26, 2014). "New York Nonprofit Expands". The Wall Street Journal.
  6. ↑ America Needs You- Illinois
  7. ↑
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
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