KKR Makes a Priceless Investment
Global investment firm dedicates time for public education in East Harlem By James Lanning
This past November, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) associate Lilah Hume and five other KKR team members helped raise $25,585 to fight poverty in New York City as they ran 26.2 miles in the 2011 ING NYC Marathon. This spring, Hume and KKR, one of the leading global private equity firms in the world, are again defining the true meaning of philanthropy as they donate what are Citizen Schools’ most esteemed assets: time and dedication.
Every Thursday, ten volunteers from KKR lead two separate apprenticeships at Global Technology Preparatory Middle School in East Harlem. With the 2012 Presidential Election readily approaching, the “Running for Office” apprenticeship teaches twelve 6th-8th graders campaign strategy and the techniques most effective in engaging large groups of people. This includes the teamwork and oral communication skills necessary to winning a presidential election. The second apprenticeship, “You’re Hired,” gives our students the opportunity to develop their own product. From creating a brand, to establishing a brand promise, to marketing towards a target audience, students learn essential business and entrepreneurial skills. In May, students will even have the opportunity to pitch their brands to corporate executives in midtown New York City.
The passion of the Citizen Teacher leads, Hume, Sagar Sanghvi, and Amanda Lee, has inspired KKR’s senior leadership to join the group of volunteers. Sir Deryck Maughan is one of the Citizen Teachers leading the “Running for Office” apprenticeship. Maughan, a partner at KKR and former Vice-Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, epitomizes KKR’s dedication to making a demonstrable and lasting impact on NYC youth.
“I had to join this team,” said Civic Engagement Manager Brian O’Neil. “I was so impressed by KKR’s commitment, the team’s dedication and their vision of what this project should look like. Sagar, Amanda and Lilah really came in thinking bigger picture about how they could use their position within the company to help not just their group of thirty students, but to help create a sustainable pipeline of talented and dedicated Citizen Teachers.”
The Citizens School team includes Amanda Lee, Ash Uphadaya, Deryck Maughan, Lilah Hume, Neil Shah, Sagar Sanghvi, Samson Mesghena, Vinesh Motwani, Vittal Kadapakkam, and Zohair Rashid.