September 2023 Updates
Fall is in full swing and we are so excited that a lot of our programs are launching into new school years and seasons!
On September 25th, the Foundation hosted a wonderful event celebrating 10 years of the Outsiders. Alongside HGB Board President, Eve Burton, Maureen Sheehan (longtime friend of the Foundation and an instrumental mentor to the Outsiders program) led a panel discussion featuring 6 of the original players. The Outsiders were 20 kids from the Bronx that the Hearst Office of General Counsel sponsored for ten years through high school and college as part of a community program, and were the spark of inspiration for the constellation of programs now in the BridgeUP Universe. These now highly accomplished and successful young men came to Hearst Tower for a powerful panel discussion and Q&A to reflect on their time in the Outsiders and share their learnings as part of a special event that gathered together an audience of Hearst and Foundation teams.
It was truly a testament to what it means to support and believe in people. Their success is a result of their inner determination and motivation they developed in their youth. The Outsiders, now in their early 30s, were also able to meet with Scholars from our BridgeUP+OUT program at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, imparting wisdom and advice to them. It was a true full circle moment that we are so proud to have had a part in facilitating!
Down in Tennessee, our BridgeUP Giddy UP Helen Champions competed in their first ever competition at the 2023 Germantown Charity Horse Show! Raven and her horse, Ava, teamed up to illustrate how magical a horse-human partnership can be. In the heat of their competition, this dynamic duo placed 2nd in their dressage competition on Friday night and 3rd place in their show jumping competition Saturday morning. Lawrence, another GiddyUP rider, began his journey at BridgeUP just one year ago, so for him to be at the level he is today is a true testament to not only his fierce focus, but also to the amazing leadership and expertise of his coaches as well as peer to peer support who acted as equestrian role models. We are SO proud of each and every rider, and are immensely grateful for the incredible dedication of our Program Director - McKrell Baier, Lead Instructor - Christian Baier, and their wonderful team of incredible coaches. The Memphis community is beaming with pride and we are so excited by the community of supporters this tremendous program has down South!
“Challenges are a constant in life, but depending on how well you keep yourself straight while leading into everyone, each difficult moment you face will deliver you to a better version of yourself on the backside!”
The BOLD Women’s Leadership Network - At the University of Connecticut, the Scholars are thrilled to be back on campus. At the beginning of the month, both cohort 5 and 6 got together for a mini-retreat to dream big and make plans for the 2023-2024 academic year! At Colby-Sawyer College, BOLD Scholars had a back to school BOLD Scholar dinner. The new cohort of young students consists of 20 amazing women who are ready to inspire others! At Middlebury College, BOLD Cohorts are getting back from their various summer activities. BOLD Scholar, Ugo Iroh, a part of cohort 7, spent her summer as a research assistant at Columbia’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. She was under the guidance of postdoctoral researcher Catherine Insel, PhD. In this role, she recruited adolescent participants in memory and learning study as well as utilized fMRI techniques to determine the decision-making framework of adolescents.
“Being a BOLD Scholar means I am not alone and can meet many like-minded, hardworking, strong women. BOLD will push me to know my worth and capabilities and be the best version of myself.”
More updates to come next month!