RBC Capital Markets today announced it is sponsoring an auction to benefit StreetWise Partners, the New York City-based non-profit organization that links volunteer business professionals with low-income adults to achieve good jobs and life-long employability. The 2nd annual auction will be held on April 20, 2009 at Christie’s Auction House in New York’s Rockefeller Center. In advance of the event and to raise awareness about StreetWise Partners’ unconventional solutions for moving the economy forward, a variety of executives from the business community will join StreetWise Partners and RBC Capital Markets to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, April 13, 2009.
Tying in with the theme of the event, Unleashing Talent to Accelerate Economic Change, StreetWise Partners will auction off donated time, meet and greets, and exclusive business leadership coaching with C-suite executives, academics, media personalities, and others, while also offering getaway experiences. In addition, the event will offer opportunities for attendees to volunteer mentor or donate suits and computers to job-seekers. The event will be emceed by honorary guests Betsy Stark, business correspondent for ABC News, and Robert C. Lieber, New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Development.
The live auction will feature one-of-a-kind experiences and items, including a private tour of the MSNBC studios and the chance to meet with the anchors of Fast Money; MBA and career counselling from executives; New York Giants Youth Football experience; VIP golf package at the RBC Canadian Open; expedition to the Galapagos Islands; exclusive Big Apple helicopter tour experience; lunch with Clay Christensen – renowned Harvard Business Professor and author, and more.
Funds raised from this event will support critical StreetWise Partners career venture training and mentoring programs, hosted at leading partner organizations like PricewaterhouseCoopers, which provide adults struggling in the job-market with high-impact employability mentoring, access to critical job search networks, and advanced employment opportunities.
In addition to RBC representatives, more than 500 executives are expected to attend this year’s event, with guests representing companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Google, New York Stock Exchange, Goldman Sachs, Fortress Investment Group, Barclays Capital, General Electric, Forbes, NBC, Bloomberg, Tishman Speyer, Barron’s, Blackstone Group and many more.
“We recognize that we can only be as successful as the communities in which we live and work, which is why we support philanthropic and community development initiatives that give people the tools with which to build their own lives,” said Sharon Solomon, Managing Director of Client and Marketing Strategy for RBC Capital Markets. “In these tough economic times, we feel that corporate social responsibility is more important than ever. We’re proud to support StreetWise Partners in offering innovative employability programs that are relevant to the marketplace.”
“The business community – our partners, and volunteer mentors – see short-term and long-term value in what we’re doing right now for the unemployed and working poor,” said Allison Devore, Executive Director of StreetWise Partners.
The auction will take place at Christie’s Auction House, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, in New York City on Monday, April 20 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while connecting with prominent members of the business community. To attend this event, contact Emilee Ballaro by noon on April 16, 2009 at [email protected] or 212.253.6965.
About RBC Capital Markets
RBC Capital Markets is a top 20 global investment bank. With over 3,200 employees, the firm provides capital markets products and services from 75 offices in 15 countries. Its North American platform includes a significant U.S. middle market investment banking franchise and leading equity, underwriting, sales, trading and research businesses. The firm is part of a global financial institution, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a top 10 global bank by market capitalization with one of the highest credit ratings of any financial institution: Moody’s Aaa and Standard & Poor’s AA-.
About StreetWise Partners
StreetWise Partners’ mission is to build mentoring relationships between low-income individuals and volunteer business professionals to develop workplace skills and employment networks as the bridge to a successful career. The organization – started as a program at PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1997 by young Wall Street professionals, has mobilized more than 3,500 volunteers who have provided over 1,100 low-income adults with team-based employability coaching. The organization’s vision is that one day all citizens will have the skills and opportunities to be employable and achieve economic wellbeing; a world where all corporations effectively promote volunteer service and hire, retain, and advance top talent from low-income communities. Visit StreetWise Partners at www.streetwisepartners.org. 11 Park Place, Suite 701, New York, NY 10007. Tel. 212.971.0078. Fax. 646.365.3183.