Increasing the number of young people entering public service has been a focus of the Foundation's efforts. In 2002, we began a partnership with Cornell University to create the Urban Scholars Program, which seeks to expand the number of graduates entering public service, while simultaneously supporting the efforts of non-profit organizations and agencies. The success of the program has been phenomenal. Nearly 80% of the students who have taken part in the program have pursued public service jobs upon graduation. Cornell has made this program a focus of its own capital campaign and contributes substantial funds to its continued success.
In 2006, we began a similar program at Harvard College. Like the Cornell initiative, Harvard’s CPIC offers stipends to college students to work in New York City organizations that focus on children and families. Thus we provide pro bono talent to help community-based agencies with their work and enable young people who could not otherwise afford to do so "catch the fever" of public service.
