Media, Awards and Recognition
ANY COO featured in Common Impact’s Nonprofit Leadership Spotlight
ANY COO, Anna Verdiyan, MPA, MSc, featured in Common Impact’s Nonprofit Leadership Spotlight Read the feature HERE!
March 7, 2023
ANY COO, Anna Verdiyan, MPA, MSc, featured in Common Impact’s Nonprofit Leadership Spotlight Read the feature HERE!
NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH 2023 Each January, National Mentoring Month is a time to elevate the power of relationships. Below you’ll find highlights from this year’s celebrations, including ways you can
Engineering Her Future Camila remembers the exact moment she realized she wanted to study engineering. Standing in Times Square, surrounded by iconic buildings and remarkable infrastructure, she felt called to
Resilience & Representation Alexxandra grew up splitting her time between her parents’ home in Lakewood and her grandmother’s home in Compton. Although she was not the most enthusiastic student early
Creating a Legacy Growing up in Cicero hearing stories about her grandparents’ hardships in Mexico, Cindy had one goal: to become the first member of her family to graduate from
Finding Herself: Shivanie’s Story Shivanie grew up in a tight-knit Guyanese family. Despite being born in the US, she struggled to feel at home as one of the very few
The meaning of mentorship: How first-gen can form relationships for life ANY Fellow Travis and his Mentor Coach (and Fellow alumnus!) Jepherson share their thoughts on mentorship in this piece
2022 Volunteer Highlights A safe space to practice vital career skills; access to prestigious companies; the realization of what’s possible. Our volunteers provide so much more than time. Resume Reviews
ANY and BCG Present: The Rise of the Gen Z Professional The number of Gen Z workers in the United States is on pace to triple in size, growing to
ANY Featured in ABC News Affirmative Action Story Roughly one in five colleges factor race into their admissions process. With the Supreme Court set to revisit the constitutionality of affirmative
What’s New at ANY: 2022 Cohort Welcome, Summer Internship Superstars, and Our New Volunteer Portal Welcoming our 2022 Cohort Summer Internship Superstars Introducing Our New Volunteer Portal Please click here to
SUMMER 2022 INTERNSHIP SUPERSTARS From the West Coast to the White House Campus Elizabeth, ANY-CA Fellow Alumna USC rising Junior and ANY Fellow Alumna Elizabeth is a double major in
Paving the Way for First-Generation College Students Adrienne Boykin, shares her experience as a first-generation college graduate and her journey to supporting first-gen college students full-time as America Needs You’s
At many of the highest-ranked colleges and universities in the U.S., from 10 to 15 percent of their spots go to legacies. Once this practice is eliminated, we could begin to make up for more than a century of exclusion by reserving these spots for first-generation college students.
ANY Awarded $50,000 In WNBC/WNJU Project Innovation Funding to Grow The Fellows Program and Further Serve the Community 1 of 10 Tri-State grant winners, selected from more than 500 applications
Bold Action for a Better Future: A Letter from Our CEO Dear Friends, In a moment of so much pain and polarization, when our course as a society seems so
ANY Named a 2022 Classy Award Winner We are excited to announce that America Needs You is a 2022 Classy Award winner in the People’s Choice category. About the Classy
What’s New at ANY: Program Graduation, Campus Partnerships, and the Power of Friendship Celebrating our ANY Fellows Program Graduates Partnership Highlight: FirstGenU & Saint Peter’s University Meet Your New Best
Meet ANY’s New CEO After launching a public search in December 2021 and assessing 248 candidates, we are happy to announce ANY’s new CEO! Jake Moreno Coplon will be joining
Celebrating Black Mentorship Although the national recognition of Black History Month came to a close on Monday, our learning and celebration does not end. Black history isn’t just Black history,
What’s New at ANY: Celebrations, Programs, and Partnerships Celebrating National Mentoring Month Introducing FirstGenU ANY Joins LinkedIn’s Network Coalition Navigating As Black Faces In White Places and High Places Mentor
America Needs You is pleased to announce that it has been selected to be part of Morgan Stanley’s $20 million initiative to advance equity in education and careers. The Institute for
ANY Awarded First Place in Apollo’s Inaugural Citizenship Pitch Competition Apollo Global Management Inc. held their inaugural Citizenship Pitch Competition, and America Needs You took first place! Over 90 employees
A Message From Our Governing Board Dear ANY Community, America Needs You (ANY) celebrates champions for first-generation college students and those who embody our mission. After ten extraordinary years of
#BecauseImFirst 2021 11/08/2021 On November 8th, ANY participated in a national conversation to celebrate first-generation college students. Using the hashtag #BecauseImFirst, our community shared the challenges, triumphs, and strengths that come
ANY Fellows Accepted into Legal Academy Programs. Meet Our Alumni. Welcome to our Newest Board Members.
Meet Our Fellow Alumni – Huiling 7/09/2021 Huiling Cai – 2017 Fellow Huiling is a Fellow alumna of our 2017 cohort. She transferred from LaGuardia Community College to Fordham University
America Needs You Newsletter – June 2021 Celebrating our 2021 graduates From Mentorship to Mobility event highlights Interview with author Gorick Ng, first-generation college graduate ANY Fellows receive Jack Kent
Celebrating 2021’s First-Generation Graduates 6/10/2021 This summer, we’re celebrating the Class of 2021’s first-generation college graduates on their momentous achievement. Our social media highlights several ANY alumni grads who described
ANY Featured by Brunswick Group 6/04/2021 ANY CEO Marianna Tu speaks with Brunswick’s Melissa Epstein about helping first-generation university students to successful graduation and employment. Read the full conversation here.
Unspoken Rules: Interview with Gorick Ng 5/20/2021 ANY Ceo Marianna Tu recently interviewed Gorick Ng, a first-generation college graduate and career advisor at Harvard. His new book, The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to
From Mentorship to Mobility. Program Year in Review. ANY at NPEA. No One Succeeds Alone. What Great Mentorship Looks Like in a Hybrid Workplace. Celebrating Our Last Workshop. Level Up Your Leadership.
Two Fellows Awarded Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship 5/14/2021 Each year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships to high-achieving community college students across the nation. Out of
ANY Featured in Harvard Business Review 5/13/2021 ANY CEO Marianna Tu and former board member Michael Li coauthored the article, “What Great Mentorship Looks Like in a Hybrid Workplace.” Read
From Mentorship To Friendship, Mircelis, Fellow & Laura, Mentor Coach From a very young age, Mircelis knew she wanted to be in the business field, but as a first-generation college
Celebrating Your Impact. Read our 2020 Annual Report.
Dedication & Direction: Jake’s Story Jake joined America Needs You during an emotionally difficult period in his life. What started out as a diversion turned into a passion and, ultimately,
Fighting COVID-19: Samantha’s Story I was always a people person, but, as a student, I knew I could be more honest with myself and what I wanted to do with
Common Ground: Kelvin & Hannah’s Story As the first in his family to attend college, Kelvin found pursuing higher education to be a challenge. A cancer diagnosis and medical
Growth & Giving Back: Mylinh, Fellow Alumna I was born and raised in Vietnam, and I came here when I was 12 years old. I was always open to new
#BecauseImFirst 2020 11/13/2020 On Sunday, November 8th, ANY participated in a national conversation to celebrate first-generation college students. Using the hashtag #BecauseImFirst, our community shared the challenges, triumphs, and strengths that come
Virtual Program Launch. Inclusion at ANY. Summer Internships
ANY Featured in The Network Journal 8/03/2020 The Network Journal interviewed ANY CEO Marianna Tu about the organization’s work and operating during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read the interview.
ANY Alumni Featured on Today Show 8/03/2020 The Today Show recently featured ANY alumni Jeff McClellan and Damien Hooper-Campbell to share their story of mentorship. Click here to watch the segment.
Please Don’t Cancel Your Internships 8/03/2020 By Dan Horgan and Marianna Tu Over the last three months, COVID-19 has made remote work the norm and forced businesses to adapt to
Celebrating 2020’s First-Generation Graduates 7/08/2020 This summer, we celebrated the Class of 2020’s first-generation college graduates on their momentous achievement. Our social media highlighted several ANY alumni grads who described
Celebrating our Community. A Note on Racial Equity and Justice. ANY’s Response to COVID-19.
Transitioning to Remote Work? Listen to Students. 3/30/2020 As organizations pivot to remote learning for students, many are scratching their heads, trying to find the right approach. But before you
Mentoring Resources and Tips. Review this guide on trauma . Read this Talking to Children About COVID-19 resource. Share this Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus with youth.
#IAmAMentor – A Conversation with Jamie Sholem, ANY Board Chair January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the power of investing in tomorrow’s leaders and show gratitude to
Meet Our Fellow Alumni — Danielle We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
Meet Our Fellow Alumni – Felix We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
Meet Our Fellow Alumni — Richard We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
Meet Our Fellow Alumni – Brittany We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
New York, New York – March 21, 2018 – America Needs You (ANY) today
announced that after serving as ANY’s Chief Executive Officer for five years, and prior to that, four years as a founding Board member, Kimberly Harris is moving to Washington, D.C. and stepping down from her role as CEO. ANY’s National Board has appointed Marianna Tu as the new CEO. Ms. Harris will remain at ANY until June 1st to oversee the transition; Ms. Tu will officially assume the role on April 1st.
Mentorship Comes Full Circle at America Needs You 1/24/2018 ANY New York Fellow Karen and her Mentor Coach Ayana—a Fellow alumna from our inaugural class—talk about the ANY mission and
America Needs You Featured on American Graduate Day on PBS 10/16/2017 ANY CEO Kimberly Harris joined the American Graduate Day broadcast on October 14, 2017, sharing how ANY’s mission supports
America Needs You Selected as Featured Nonprofit on MENTOR 7/28/2017 ANY was selected as the featured nonprofit on MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership’s blog. The feature highlights how ANY Mentor Coaches play
America Needs You Launches Partner Program with LaGuardia Community College America Needs You (ANY) announced a three-year program partnership with LaGuardia Community College. The school-based program will provide mentorship, intensive
ANY-IL Featured on WGN-TV 2/23/2017 Julie Hoffmann, ANY-IL Executive Director, and Ben, a 2015 Illinois Fellow, were featured on WGN-TV. Click here to watch the segment.
America Needs You on ABC’s Here and Now 12/21/2015 On December 20th, 2015, ABC’s , Here and Now, featured America Needs You. To see the entire news video, featuring Kimberly
America Needs You on NY1 Online 12/21/2015 NY1 Online: Winners of Nonprofit Excellence Awards Suggest Innovative Ways to Help NYers By Inside City Hall Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 09:17
2015 NonProfit Excellence Awards Announcement 11/19/2015 Three Exceptional New York Nonprofits Win 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Awards New York Common Pantry wins the Gold Prize for Overall Management Excellence America Needs
ANY Winner of the 2015 New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards 11/10/2015 Three Exceptional New York Nonprofits Win 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Awards America Needs You, BRC and New York
America Needs You in the Huffington Post 8/10/2015 These Groups Are Hoping To Help First-Generation College Students Make It To Graduation Two unique programs aimed at helping students make it
America Needs You in the Chicago Tribune 06/03/15 America Needs You guides low-income Students, diversifies workforce. Read the full article here.
America Needs You Featured in The Wall Street Journal 1/26/2014 The Wall Street Journal covered Thursday’s Benefit Dinner and the launch of America Needs You. Click here for the full article.
New York Needs You Launches America Needs You 1/24/2014 – Media release New York Needs You launches America Needs You – a national platform to fight for economic mobility for ambitious,
ANY COO, Anna Verdiyan, MPA, MSc, featured in Common Impact’s Nonprofit Leadership Spotlight Read the feature HERE!
NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH 2023 Each January, National Mentoring Month is a time to elevate the power of relationships. Below you’ll find highlights from this year’s celebrations, including ways you can
Engineering Her Future Camila remembers the exact moment she realized she wanted to study engineering. Standing in Times Square, surrounded by iconic buildings and remarkable infrastructure, she felt called to
Resilience & Representation Alexxandra grew up splitting her time between her parents’ home in Lakewood and her grandmother’s home in Compton. Although she was not the most enthusiastic student early
Creating a Legacy Growing up in Cicero hearing stories about her grandparents’ hardships in Mexico, Cindy had one goal: to become the first member of her family to graduate from
Finding Herself: Shivanie’s Story Shivanie grew up in a tight-knit Guyanese family. Despite being born in the US, she struggled to feel at home as one of the very few
The meaning of mentorship: How first-gen can form relationships for life ANY Fellow Travis and his Mentor Coach (and Fellow alumnus!) Jepherson share their thoughts on mentorship in this piece
2022 Volunteer Highlights A safe space to practice vital career skills; access to prestigious companies; the realization of what’s possible. Our volunteers provide so much more than time. Resume Reviews
ANY and BCG Present: The Rise of the Gen Z Professional The number of Gen Z workers in the United States is on pace to triple in size, growing to
ANY Featured in ABC News Affirmative Action Story Roughly one in five colleges factor race into their admissions process. With the Supreme Court set to revisit the constitutionality of affirmative
What’s New at ANY: 2022 Cohort Welcome, Summer Internship Superstars, and Our New Volunteer Portal Welcoming our 2022 Cohort Summer Internship Superstars Introducing Our New Volunteer Portal Please click here to
SUMMER 2022 INTERNSHIP SUPERSTARS From the West Coast to the White House Campus Elizabeth, ANY-CA Fellow Alumna USC rising Junior and ANY Fellow Alumna Elizabeth is a double major in
Paving the Way for First-Generation College Students Adrienne Boykin, shares her experience as a first-generation college graduate and her journey to supporting first-gen college students full-time as America Needs You’s
At many of the highest-ranked colleges and universities in the U.S., from 10 to 15 percent of their spots go to legacies. Once this practice is eliminated, we could begin to make up for more than a century of exclusion by reserving these spots for first-generation college students.
ANY Awarded $50,000 In WNBC/WNJU Project Innovation Funding to Grow The Fellows Program and Further Serve the Community 1 of 10 Tri-State grant winners, selected from more than 500 applications
Bold Action for a Better Future: A Letter from Our CEO Dear Friends, In a moment of so much pain and polarization, when our course as a society seems so
ANY Named a 2022 Classy Award Winner We are excited to announce that America Needs You is a 2022 Classy Award winner in the People’s Choice category. About the Classy
What’s New at ANY: Program Graduation, Campus Partnerships, and the Power of Friendship Celebrating our ANY Fellows Program Graduates Partnership Highlight: FirstGenU & Saint Peter’s University Meet Your New Best
Meet ANY’s New CEO After launching a public search in December 2021 and assessing 248 candidates, we are happy to announce ANY’s new CEO! Jake Moreno Coplon will be joining
Celebrating Black Mentorship Although the national recognition of Black History Month came to a close on Monday, our learning and celebration does not end. Black history isn’t just Black history,
What’s New at ANY: Celebrations, Programs, and Partnerships Celebrating National Mentoring Month Introducing FirstGenU ANY Joins LinkedIn’s Network Coalition Navigating As Black Faces In White Places and High Places Mentor
America Needs You is pleased to announce that it has been selected to be part of Morgan Stanley’s $20 million initiative to advance equity in education and careers. The Institute for
ANY Awarded First Place in Apollo’s Inaugural Citizenship Pitch Competition Apollo Global Management Inc. held their inaugural Citizenship Pitch Competition, and America Needs You took first place! Over 90 employees
A Message From Our Governing Board Dear ANY Community, America Needs You (ANY) celebrates champions for first-generation college students and those who embody our mission. After ten extraordinary years of
#BecauseImFirst 2021 11/08/2021 On November 8th, ANY participated in a national conversation to celebrate first-generation college students. Using the hashtag #BecauseImFirst, our community shared the challenges, triumphs, and strengths that come
ANY Fellows Accepted into Legal Academy Programs. Meet Our Alumni. Welcome to our Newest Board Members.
Meet Our Fellow Alumni – Huiling 7/09/2021 Huiling Cai – 2017 Fellow Huiling is a Fellow alumna of our 2017 cohort. She transferred from LaGuardia Community College to Fordham University
America Needs You Newsletter – June 2021 Celebrating our 2021 graduates From Mentorship to Mobility event highlights Interview with author Gorick Ng, first-generation college graduate ANY Fellows receive Jack Kent
Celebrating 2021’s First-Generation Graduates 6/10/2021 This summer, we’re celebrating the Class of 2021’s first-generation college graduates on their momentous achievement. Our social media highlights several ANY alumni grads who described
ANY Featured by Brunswick Group 6/04/2021 ANY CEO Marianna Tu speaks with Brunswick’s Melissa Epstein about helping first-generation university students to successful graduation and employment. Read the full conversation here.
Unspoken Rules: Interview with Gorick Ng 5/20/2021 ANY Ceo Marianna Tu recently interviewed Gorick Ng, a first-generation college graduate and career advisor at Harvard. His new book, The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to
From Mentorship to Mobility. Program Year in Review. ANY at NPEA. No One Succeeds Alone. What Great Mentorship Looks Like in a Hybrid Workplace. Celebrating Our Last Workshop. Level Up Your Leadership.
Two Fellows Awarded Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship 5/14/2021 Each year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships to high-achieving community college students across the nation. Out of
ANY Featured in Harvard Business Review 5/13/2021 ANY CEO Marianna Tu and former board member Michael Li coauthored the article, “What Great Mentorship Looks Like in a Hybrid Workplace.” Read
From Mentorship To Friendship, Mircelis, Fellow & Laura, Mentor Coach From a very young age, Mircelis knew she wanted to be in the business field, but as a first-generation college
Celebrating Your Impact. Read our 2020 Annual Report.
Dedication & Direction: Jake’s Story Jake joined America Needs You during an emotionally difficult period in his life. What started out as a diversion turned into a passion and, ultimately,
Fighting COVID-19: Samantha’s Story I was always a people person, but, as a student, I knew I could be more honest with myself and what I wanted to do with
Common Ground: Kelvin & Hannah’s Story As the first in his family to attend college, Kelvin found pursuing higher education to be a challenge. A cancer diagnosis and medical
Growth & Giving Back: Mylinh, Fellow Alumna I was born and raised in Vietnam, and I came here when I was 12 years old. I was always open to new
#BecauseImFirst 2020 11/13/2020 On Sunday, November 8th, ANY participated in a national conversation to celebrate first-generation college students. Using the hashtag #BecauseImFirst, our community shared the challenges, triumphs, and strengths that come
Virtual Program Launch. Inclusion at ANY. Summer Internships
ANY Featured in The Network Journal 8/03/2020 The Network Journal interviewed ANY CEO Marianna Tu about the organization’s work and operating during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to read the interview.
ANY Alumni Featured on Today Show 8/03/2020 The Today Show recently featured ANY alumni Jeff McClellan and Damien Hooper-Campbell to share their story of mentorship. Click here to watch the segment.
Please Don’t Cancel Your Internships 8/03/2020 By Dan Horgan and Marianna Tu Over the last three months, COVID-19 has made remote work the norm and forced businesses to adapt to
Celebrating 2020’s First-Generation Graduates 7/08/2020 This summer, we celebrated the Class of 2020’s first-generation college graduates on their momentous achievement. Our social media highlighted several ANY alumni grads who described
Celebrating our Community. A Note on Racial Equity and Justice. ANY’s Response to COVID-19.
Transitioning to Remote Work? Listen to Students. 3/30/2020 As organizations pivot to remote learning for students, many are scratching their heads, trying to find the right approach. But before you
Mentoring Resources and Tips. Review this guide on trauma . Read this Talking to Children About COVID-19 resource. Share this Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus with youth.
#IAmAMentor – A Conversation with Jamie Sholem, ANY Board Chair January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the power of investing in tomorrow’s leaders and show gratitude to
Meet Our Fellow Alumni — Danielle We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
Meet Our Fellow Alumni – Felix We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
Meet Our Fellow Alumni — Richard We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
Meet Our Fellow Alumni – Brittany We believe in the power of career development and mentorship to transform lives and entire communities. We talked with several Fellow alumni and heard
New York, New York – March 21, 2018 – America Needs You (ANY) today
announced that after serving as ANY’s Chief Executive Officer for five years, and prior to that, four years as a founding Board member, Kimberly Harris is moving to Washington, D.C. and stepping down from her role as CEO. ANY’s National Board has appointed Marianna Tu as the new CEO. Ms. Harris will remain at ANY until June 1st to oversee the transition; Ms. Tu will officially assume the role on April 1st.
Mentorship Comes Full Circle at America Needs You 1/24/2018 ANY New York Fellow Karen and her Mentor Coach Ayana—a Fellow alumna from our inaugural class—talk about the ANY mission and
America Needs You Featured on American Graduate Day on PBS 10/16/2017 ANY CEO Kimberly Harris joined the American Graduate Day broadcast on October 14, 2017, sharing how ANY’s mission supports
America Needs You Selected as Featured Nonprofit on MENTOR 7/28/2017 ANY was selected as the featured nonprofit on MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership’s blog. The feature highlights how ANY Mentor Coaches play
America Needs You Launches Partner Program with LaGuardia Community College America Needs You (ANY) announced a three-year program partnership with LaGuardia Community College. The school-based program will provide mentorship, intensive
ANY-IL Featured on WGN-TV 2/23/2017 Julie Hoffmann, ANY-IL Executive Director, and Ben, a 2015 Illinois Fellow, were featured on WGN-TV. Click here to watch the segment.
America Needs You on ABC’s Here and Now 12/21/2015 On December 20th, 2015, ABC’s , Here and Now, featured America Needs You. To see the entire news video, featuring Kimberly
America Needs You on NY1 Online 12/21/2015 NY1 Online: Winners of Nonprofit Excellence Awards Suggest Innovative Ways to Help NYers By Inside City Hall Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 09:17
2015 NonProfit Excellence Awards Announcement 11/19/2015 Three Exceptional New York Nonprofits Win 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Awards New York Common Pantry wins the Gold Prize for Overall Management Excellence America Needs
ANY Winner of the 2015 New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards 11/10/2015 Three Exceptional New York Nonprofits Win 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Awards America Needs You, BRC and New York
America Needs You in the Huffington Post 8/10/2015 These Groups Are Hoping To Help First-Generation College Students Make It To Graduation Two unique programs aimed at helping students make it
America Needs You in the Chicago Tribune 06/03/15 America Needs You guides low-income Students, diversifies workforce. Read the full article here.
America Needs You Featured in The Wall Street Journal 1/26/2014 The Wall Street Journal covered Thursday’s Benefit Dinner and the launch of America Needs You. Click here for the full article.
New York Needs You Launches America Needs You 1/24/2014 – Media release New York Needs You launches America Needs You – a national platform to fight for economic mobility for ambitious,
