The end of the school year has always held special meaning for me, but this year is especially important.
In 2022, Athena signed on as a corporate sponsor with City Year Philadelphia, an organization that supports students and young adults in city schools. As a former teacher, I know how vital these resources can be for communities. Philadelphia is Athena’s headquarters and our hometown so partnering with City Year felt like an investment in the next generation of leaders.
The partnership centers around supporting the City Year team at Edwin Forrest Elementary in Mayfair, but we’ve also engaged with students, teachers, and administrators over the past few months. Our role as a school sponsor allows us to help them in all different ways. In February, we donated lunchboxes to the kids and the entire Athena team collected 100 books to donate to the school’s Black History Month book drive. We also hosted a teacher appreciation lunch for dozens of staff in the spring. Throughout the school year, Athena participated in annual volunteer events like MLK Day of Service.
We joined other City Year corporate sponsorships at the LACY Day and Career Fair, where 60 Corp members joined leadership and development workshops hosted by partner companies and learned about different job opportunities. I was invited to lead a session on how to market yourself to employers. Just like my days being a teacher, I learned just as much as they did. The afternoon prompted a lot of discussion about what today’s graduates are looking for in potential employers.
Our sponsorship also extended to pro bono creative work timed with City Year’s 25th anniversary. We collaborated closely with their marketing and events team to develop a social media campaign set to officially launch in 2024. The concept was previewed at the annual Red Jacket Gala in early May, when students and teachers are recognized for their exceptional service.
We look forward to what the next 25 years will hold for City Year and Athena’s continued involvement with the organization. They are truly changing the lives of the program’s students and young adults every day. We give this partnership an A+.
Head over to City Year Philadelphia’s website to learn more and get involved today!