120 Students Enrolled in New Jersey SEEDS Complete the Summer Challenge Program with Grant from Goldman Sachs Gives

Rising eighth-graders participated in three weeks of rigorous academic classes

Thanks to the support of Goldman Sachs Gives and Goldman Sachs employees, 120 students enrolled in New Jersey SEEDS’ Scholars Program completed a three-week residential academic session on the campus of The Hill School (Pottstown, Pa.) on Friday, July 11. The Goldman Sachs Summer Challenge Program is the first step of New Jersey SEEDS’ 14-month Scholars Program for motivated, high-achieving students from low-income families. SEEDS places Scholars who complete the program at selective day and boarding schools across the country with enough financial aid to allow them to attend.

Arriving at The Hill School on Sunday, June 22, Scholars participated in more than 100 hours of rigorous classes in math, history and English. They engaged in daily workshops to increase academic, leadership and social skills. To assure a well-rounded experience, students also participated in a sporting activity and elective. This year’s electives include study in poetry, Chinese and sign language, among others.

Goldman Sachs Gives and the support of Goldman Sachs volunteers have been a great benefit to New Jersey SEEDS,” explains President Ronni Denes. “It’s that personal investment of time that really gives our Scholars a life-changing look at their potential. I’m enormously grateful to two SEEDS Trustees from Goldman Sachs who made this happen: Theo Lubke (Managing Director, Securities Division) and Emmanuel Bello (Vice President, High Yield Credit Research), who is also an alumnus of SEEDS. With their leadership, Goldman Sachs Gives and Goldman Sachs employees have contributed more than $130,000 for this year’s class of students.”

SEEDS’ Scholars Program is the organization’s oldest program and its largest. Serving rising eighth-grade students from across the state, nearly 550 applications were received this year. Following the Goldman Sachs Summer Challenge Program, 95 of the strongest students will be invited to continue in academic classes each Saturday during Scholars’ eighth-grade year. A second, three-week residential session takes place following eighth-grade before graduation from SEEDS and placement in selective schools across the country.

New Jersey SEEDS - Goldman Sachs Summer Challenge Program

About New Jersey SEEDS
Since its inception in 1992, New Jersey SEEDS has provided educational access for highly motivated, low-income students and created a viable path for them to achieve their full potential. SEEDS strives for a world in which young people’s initiative, creativity and intellect can flourish without regard to socioeconomic status. To date, nearly 2,000 scholars have benefited from its programs. For more information, visit www.njseeds.org.

About Goldman Sachs Gives
Goldman Sachs Gives is a donor-advised fund through which Goldman Sachs and its senior employees can recommend grants to qualified non-profit organizations globally. Established in 2007, Goldman Sachs Gives supports charities in communities around the world with a focus on benefiting underserved populations. Its grants support programs that build and stabilize communities, increase educational opportunities, honor service and veterans, and create jobs and economic growth.