City Year Columbia to Honor State Superintendent of Education at Ripples of Hope Gala
March 22, 2015
Annual gala will benefit City Year Columbia, which works to keep students in school and on track to succeed
COLUMBIA, SC – City Year Columbia, an education-focused organization that unites young adults for a year of service in high-need urban public schools, will host its annual Ripples of Hope Gala on April 15, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Capital City Club. Molly M. Spearman, State Superintendent of Education, will receive the Idealism in Action Award for her investment in education and dedication to helping students and schools succeed.
Inez Tenenbaum, partner at Nelson Mullins and former State Superintendent of Education, will serve as the Host of the evening and will be addressing guests, area business and community leaders, and City Year Columbia’s 24 corps members who serve tirelessly on a daily basis as tutors, mentors and role models for students in 3 of South Carolina’s Midlands schools.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to our champions of education in South Carolina, like Molly Spearman, who make this important work possible,” said Gail Wilson-Giarratano, City Year Columbia Executive Director. “Our annual dinner provides an wonderful opportunity to celebrate our supporters, as well as our City Year AmeriCorps members who bring energy, talent, and dedication to the students they serve every day.”
This year, 24 City Year Columbia AmeriCorps members serve in Midlands public schools to provide support to students who face the greatest risk of dropping out. Working side-by-side with teachers, corps members use research-based tools to improve students’ attendance, behavior and course performance in math and English. Corps members also lead afterschool programs and school-wide initiatives to improve school culture. Last school year, 100% of principals/liaisons agreed or strongly agreed that City Year Columbia’s AmeriCorps members serve as positive role models to students.
Long-time supporter and partner, Bain Capital, is City Year’s National Gala Sponsor. Since City Year’s inception, Bain Capital and its employees have supported City Year with more than $25 million in donations and hundreds of volunteer hours by the firm’s employees. The national gala sponsorship includes a donation of $50,000 to each of City Year’s 25 sites nation-wide.
“We are honored to support City Year’s tremendous impact on communities and schools,” said Tricia Patrick, a Principal with Bain Capital Private Equity. “As supporters of the organization for more than two decades, we have seen how City Year helps students in high poverty public schools succeed and also develops corps members into civic-minded leaders of tomorrow. City Year AmeriCorps members’ tireless dedication to the students they serve is an inspiration to all of us.”
City Year Columbia’s gala also receives critical local support from Presenting Sponsor, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
To purchase tickets, please visit https://ssl.charityweb.net/cityyear/event/cycolscgala.htm
To donate to City Year Columbia, please visit https://ssl.charityweb.net/cityyear/?DonorIntent=Columbia
For more information on City Year Columbia, please visit http://www.cityyear.org/columbia
WHAT: City Year Columbia to host annual Ripples of Hope Gala
WHEN: April 15, 2015 at 6:00pm
WHERE: Capital City Club
1201 Main Street #2500
Columbia, SC 29201
WHO: Honoree, Molly M. Spearman
Host, Inez Tenenbaum
About City Year
City Year is an education-focused organization founded in 1988 dedicated to helping students and schools succeed. City Year partners with public schools in 26 urban, high-poverty communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and Johannesburg, South Africa. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide high-impact student, classroom and school-wide support, to help students stay in school and on track to graduate from high school, ready for college and career success. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is made possible by support from the Corporation for National and Community Service, school district partnerships, and private philanthropy from corporations, foundations and individuals. Learn more at www.cityyear.org.
About Bain Capital, LLC
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital has grown into one of the world’s foremost privately-held alternative investment firms. Bain Capital’s affiliated businesses – Bain Capital Private Equity, Sankaty Advisors, Bain Capital Ventures, Brookside Capital and Absolute Return Capital – manage approximately $80 billion in assets for endowments, pensions, foundations and other institutions and individuals. The firm’s more than 900 employees in 13 locations around the world focus on delivering great returns for investors while contributing back to the communities where they live and work. Through Bain Capital Community Partnership, the firm and its employees serve as trusted partners to more than 500 civic organizations around the world whose missions inspire them, helping to build great communities and improve the quality of life where they live and work.
