Pencil Inc

SINCE 1995, WEVE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN BRINGING TOGETHER BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AND STUDENTS TO OPEN EYES, OPEN MINDS, AND OPEN DOORS. BY DOING SO, WE CONNECT STUDENTS TO SUCCESS.

IN 2021, PENCIL CONNECTED 5,394 NYC STUDENTS TO 1,100 VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORS FROM 177 BUSINESS. PENCIL HELD ALL PROGRAMMING VIRTUALLY AS A RESULT OF THE ON-GOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PENCILS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM SERVED 1,012 STUDENTS ACROSS 33 NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY LEVERAGING THE TALENTS AND RESOURCES OF NYCS BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE STUDENTS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS WERE SUPPORTED BY 534 VOLUNTEERS FROM 27 COMPANIES. 75% OF STUDENTS SAW IMPROVEMENT IN ONE OR MORE OF PENCILS KEYS TO SUCCESS. ANALYSIS OF SESSION FEEDBACK SHOWED:90% OF SURVEYED STUDENTS FELT MORE CONFIDENT INTRODUCING THEMSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING97% FELT MORE CONFIDENT THEY COULD SUCCESSFULLY INTERVIEW FOR A JOB95% AGREED THAT WORKING WITH MENTORS HELPED THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS THEY HAVE AFTER THEY GRADUATE97% UNDERSTOOD HOW THEIR PROFESSIONAL BRAND COULD INFLUENCE THEIR CAREER PATH WITH THE SUPPORT OF 207 VOLUNTEERS FROM 56 BUSINESSES, PENCIL SERVED OVER 1,115 STUDENTS THROUGH OPEN-SOURCE SESSIONS. OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS FROM OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS, THESE 79 VIRTUAL SESSIONS FILLED A GAP IN INSTRUCTION DURING NEW YORK CITYS TRANSITION TO DISTANCE LEARNING AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS THAT TEACHERS COULD NOT ACHIEVE ALONE. 96% OF SURVEYED STUDENTS AGREED THAT THE SESSION HELPED THEM THINK ABOUT FUTURE ASPIRATIONS97% OF STUDENTS FELT MORE CONFIDENT THAT THEY COULD SUCCEED AFTER GRADUATION. PENCIL VIRTUALLY HOSTED PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY THE WEEK OF APRIL 26TH. THESE EVENTS CREATED SPACE FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND REFLECT ON THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, VIRTUAL WORK AND LEARNING, AND THE INCREASED ATTENTION TO INJUSTICE AND SYSTEMIC RACISM. OVER 27 EXECUTIVES CONNECTED WITH 22 SCHOOLS SUPPORTING AN ESTIMATED 301 TEACHERS AND 2,502 STUDENTS THROUGH THESE INTERACTIVE SESSIONS.OVER THE SUMMER, PENCIL PLACED 346 STUDENTS IN INTERNSHIP AND OTHER PAID WORK-BASED EXPERIENCES. PENCIL PLACED 269 STUDENTS IN SIX-WEEK REMOTE OR IN-PERSON INTERNSHIPS AT 101 BUSINESSES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. PENCIL PROVIDED 76 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WITH VIRTUAL PAID WORK-BASED EXPERIENCES THROUGH TWO PROGRAMS (CAREER EXPLORERS, AND NYC TECH). AN ADDITIONAL 690 STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED COLLEGE AND CAREER TRAINING THROUGH PENCIL'S PROGRAMS. OVERALL, 422 VOLUNTEERS FROM 26 COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN 93 VIRTUAL TRAINING EVENTS TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO SUCCESS.OF THE 2021 SUMMER COHORT, 90% OF STUDENTS SAW IMPROVEMENT IN ONE OR MORE OF PENCILS KEYS TO SUCCESS. IN TOTAL, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED OVER $778,000 IN WAGES. BUSINESS MENTORS AND STUDENT INTERNS ALSO REPORT THAT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PARTICIPANTS COMMUNICATION SKILLS, NETWORKING SKILLS, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND THEIR CAREER AWARENESS AND PLANNING.