What: The New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project, (NJ LEEP)
will honor Prudential Executive Vice President and General Counsel Susan
Blount and Gregory K. Palm, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. for Stellar Corporate Leadership in
the Promotion of Diversity at its sixth annual Diversity in the
Legal Profession, Diversity in Leadership gala on April 30. The
event will be held at the Westin Jersey City Newport, Jersey City, N.J.
The event is sold-out.
Craig Livermore, Executive Director and Founder of NJ LEEP, said that
“We seek to honor strong partners who help ensure we have the resources
we need to send 100% of our graduates to college each year.” Mr.
Livermore went on to add that, “If not for our Gala raising over
$900,000 this year, a record for our organization, we would not be able
continue to expand our proven college-access model to serve greater
numbers of urban New Jersey high school students.”
“I am very honored to be recognized by NJ LEEP,” Blount said. “It’s a
program that I’ve been involved with for a number of years, and one that
I’ve considered among my personal priorities. To the extent that through
this event, we can raise both awareness and resources for the program,
then we can help more kids get firmly on the pathway not just to
college, but to success in college and beyond.”
Each summer, Prudential hosts NJ LEEP high school students who have
expressed an interest in developing the skills and discipline for a
career in law. These NJ LEEP high school students work as interns for a
two week period and partner with LCBE associates on mock trials and
similar projects involving legal reasoning and analysis. Many members of
the Prudential team provide mentoring and support the internship
opportunities provided to NJ LEEP students each year. Blount is also a
member of the NJ LEEP board of trustees.
Jeffrey Isaacs, Managing Director and Global Chief Operating Officer of
the Legal Department at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and a Board Member of NJ
LEEP, said that “Goldman Sachs has consistently demonstrated a broad
commitment to diversity and educational enrichment programs for youth in
our local communities.”
Mr. Isaacs went on to emphasize the significant ties Goldman Sachs has
to the organization. “For several years, many of our professionals have
worked with and volunteered their time to NJ LEEP. We believe that
through programs such as this initiative, we can provide students an
opportunity to shine and to enhance important skill sets.”
NJ LEEP is a college access program that exposes urban minority youth in
Newark, Trenton and Jersey City to the legal profession, and helps them
build the skills necessary to enter and graduate from college. In
addition to school-based partnerships, NJ LEEP facilitates a four-year
out-of-school-time College Bound Program in Newark for urban high school
youth.
Among NJ LEEP’s College Bound Program’s first three graduating classes
of 2011, 2012 and 2013, 100 percent have gone on to college and 85
percent are currently enrolled in college. Universities and colleges
currently attended by NJ LEEP alumni include Georgetown University,
Bowdoin College, Rutgers University, Drew University, The College of New
Jersey, Bryn Mawr College, Princeton University, Mt. Holyoke College,
Trinity College and many others. NJ LEEP urban high school student
participants and alumni will be present at the event and featured
throughout the evening.
About NJ LEEP
NJ LEEP is a program with a mission to increase diversity within the
legal and other professions; its fundamental values are based upon a
vision of educational empowerment. NJ LEEP is a community of volunteers,
corporations, law firms, institutions of higher learning, staff members,
students and family members, all with the laser focused goal of
providing college access and success to urban students.
Copyright Business Wire 2014