Year Up National Capital Region hosted Geek Gala 3.0 at the National Gaylord on Saturday, November 17, 2012. Ranked as a “Top 10 Gala” by the Washington Life Magazine, the celebration brought together more than 400 attendees to recognize individuals, corporations, and organizations that are advancing Year Up’s mission of closing the Opportunity Divide for urban young adults. At the Geek Gala, New Signature CEO Christopher Hertz was honored as the 2012 Opportunity Champion for his efforts to expand access to the program to more students, communicate the value of corporations’ participation in Year Up, improve the efficacy of Year Up students’ professional development, and mentor students and alumni to help them find a viable path to economic self-sufficiency.
Year Up National Capital Region is a one-year, intensive training program that provides low-income young adults, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skill development, college credits, and corporate internships. More than 33,000 young adults in the National Capital Region area do not have access to livable wage careers or higher education, and Year Up’s students and graduates have proven that these young adults are capable of adding immediate value to local companies. Year Up National Capital Region is working hard to close the Opportunity Divide in the Washington, DC metropolitan community.
