It Will Be Worth the Wait: Postponement of Starfish Ball | Atlanta, GA (January 20, 2022)
Out of social responsibility, The nsoro Educational Foundation announces the postponement of Starfish Ball, originally scheduled for January 2022. For the health and safety of the community and out of respect for the front-line medical workers, the Board of Directors announces that Starfish Ball, nsoro’s annual gala will be rescheduled to May 21, 2022.
“116 of our 302 Scholars nationwide were greatly impacted by COVID-19. Our continued emergency response directs an average of $1,538 per Scholar in need of housing support and food security. We are immensely grateful for every sponsor and patron who has so generously donated to Starfish Ball. While only 4% of youth, aging out of foster care will graduate college, with nsoro’s help, our collegians celebrate an 81% graduation rate and are well-prepared for the transition from college to career, with a pathway to economic security,” said Monica Pantoja, Executive Director.
Correspondence has been sent to all patrons involved. The 16th Annual Starfish Ball is a black-tie gala at St. Regis, Atlanta where a “Queen and King of Mardi Gras” preside over the festivities. Honorees Kwanza Jones, Co-Founder and CEO, Supercharged® Initiative, and Vince Burkett, Managing Director, Vista Equity Partners, Permanent Capital, will electrify guests with messages of nsoro’s impact on the academic achievement of marginalized youth aging out of foster care nationwide.
The nsoro Educational Foundation has set a goal to raise $2 million through this year’s event, and we’d would like to express deep gratitude for the overwhelming support of individual patrons and corporate friends whose philanthropy set a record advance sell out of Starfish 2022, with $1.4 million raised as of 12/31/2021. Hope and Robert F. Smith are among the Starfish 2022 donors who create a significant impact in the lives of the youth nsoro serve. Mr. Smith is Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, and the nsoro Foundation would like to recognize their generous donation in honor of this year’s King of Starfish Ball, Honoree Vince Burkett, to the Burkett Legacy Scholarship, a gift in which Mr. Smith truly hopes will inspire others to do the same.
nsoro salutes the generosity of the following corporate sponsors:
The Coca-Cola Company, Coldwell Banker, Cresset Capital, Delta Community Credit Union, Georgia Power, Goldman Sachs, Greenberg Traurig, LLC, Hideoki, Legendary Events, Mercedes-Benz USA, Microsoft, Neiman Marcus, Polish Dental Center, Reicon Capital, The St. Regis Atlanta, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Banking, Wilmington Trust, Brown and Co. Jewelers, and media sponsor Simply Buckhead.
About The nsoro Educational Foundation
Since 2005, The nsoro Educational Foundation has been one of the few organizations that provides flexible gap funding and wrap-around support to youth aging out of foster care. nsoro is a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit currently supporting 302 scholars attending 191 fully accredited post-secondary institutions across 32 states. Dismantling barriers to equitable outcomes, nsoro’s mission is squarely focused on degree completion and post-graduation employment, ensuring youth aging out of foster care can sever the chains of systemic setbacks and live out their full potential.
For further inquiry, please contact 404.524.0807 or for more information visit https://nsoro.foundation and https://starfish2022.givesmart.com/
