ING Makes Transformational Grant to RTSWS's Career Platform
Providing Access and Opportunity to Young Women Entering the
Workforce
NEW
YORK, April 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock The
Street, Wall Street (RTSWS), bringing the world of math and finance
to diverse high school girls, and ING Americas announce a
reimagined Student & Alumnae Career Center.
With a grant provided by ING's global community investment
fund, ING Americas is the Inaugural Sponsor of the
RTSWS Student & Alumnae Career Center. The grant will be
used to transform the engagement and experience for
alumnae and students seeking recruitment events, networking
opportunities, internships, and entry-level positions. More than 70
financial firms post job openings with some also providing career
fairs, training, and events for these cohorts, continuing to build
networks and support as they advance in their careers.
"We immediately recognized a natural alignment with Rock The
Street, Wall Street which is helping to bring both gender and
racial equity to the financial markets," commented Gerald Walker, CEO, ING
Americas. "At ING, we are focused on steering people
towards stronger financial health through financial literacy
education and career development. With this grant, we can ensure
that the training and experience alumnae received as RTSWS
students, continues to be supported as they enter the workforce
bringing us a step closer to increasing the number of women in
finance and math-related jobs."
Rock The Street, Wall Street offers racially diverse high school
girls additional opportunities to engage with math before
proactively selecting college courses and, ultimately, their career
pursuits. Importantly, RTSWS alumnae earn degrees in finance,
economics, or related business fields at 5x the American national
average for women in college.
"Through this commitment, ING is helping women take their first
steps in establishing finance careers by providing access to
employment and networking opportunities," commented
Katharyn Meyer, Head of Financial
Markets, ING Americas and a lead sponsor of this partnership.
"For me, the love of math and finance has been encouraged by my
teachers, parents, and mentors throughout my academic and
professional journey. It is my hope to pass forward this gift of
engagement and support to others with the help of ING and industry
colleagues."
Rock The Street, Wall Street demonstrates the benefits for
active engagement with high school girls, as their graduates
complete the program 71% more financially literate.
With 25 years of Wall Street experience, RTSWS Founder
& CEO Maura
Cunningham turned her attention to empowering the
next generation. "Understanding math and the power it can have,
offers these talented students a seat at the table, diversifying
and strengthening the workforce," comments Ms. Cunningham. "STEM
professions are exciting, purposeful and can lift families out of
poverty in one generation."
Although women have surpassed men in earning college degrees,
women are disproportionately represented in 6 of the 10
lowest-paying college majors, while 9 of the 10 highest-paying
majors, all in the STEM fields, are dominated by men.
Throughout Financial Literacy Month, Rock The Street, Wall
Street is participating in several industry events to raise
awareness, thank volunteers, and recognize students and
alumnae. Rock the Street, Wall Street is proud to have
recently added ING Americas, Ninety One, and Bloomberg to their
esteemed group of partner firms leading the way. Sponsors include
Blackrock, Meta, J.P. Morgan, LPL, EY, Franklin Templeton, Invesco, Fitch, and
Morningstar. Click here for the complete list.
"As we raise awareness during Financial Literacy month, I am
grateful to our sponsors and volunteers for helping our remarkable
students and alumnae," Ms. Cunningham added. "We know there is a
long road ahead, so it's great to reflect on our wins and support
as we move forward together. This generous grant from ING Americas
will help RTSWS grow with our students and improve the girls'
experiences as they work hard to enter the financial industry – a
major win for us all."
Rock The Street, Wall Street is now in more than 60 high schools
across 34 cities and has engaged more than 6,000 girls through its
program. Completing the program, students' comprehension of
financial and investment concepts improves by an average of 71%,
and their interest in pursuing a degree in finance, economics, or
related fields is 5x higher than the national average of women
attending college. 73% of RTSWS students are from BIPOC populations
and 50% are from low-income households. Rock The Street, Wall
Street is a 501c3, and operates in the US, Vancouver, and London.
About ING Americas
ING Americas is the brand name of ING's wholesale business in
the Americas region, and a part of ING Group N.V. ("ING"), a global
financial services company of Dutch origin with a network spanning
the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. ING has more than 58,000 employees
and offers financial services to customers in over 40
countries.
ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges
of Amsterdam (INGA NA,
INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange
(ADRs: ING US, ING.N).
About Rock The Street, Wall Street
RTSWS is an innovative nonprofit that brings the world of
finance to high school girls, helping to provide financial and
investment literacy before college and career selections are made.
Aiming to increase girls' interest in the financial industry,
former Wall Street executive, Maura
Cunningham, founded RTSWS, which has expanded
internationally to bring STEM to young women in more than 60 high
schools across 34 cities across the US and now in London and Vancouver. The programs leverage women leaders
in the financial industry as volunteer instructors and coaches, and
firms as sponsors. RTSWS helps students see themselves in key
roles, expanding their reach and offers them the social capital and
a flight path into the M in STEM careers. RTSWS alumnae earn
degrees in finance, economics, or a related business field at a 5x
the US national average for women in college.
RTSWS solves for a few problems: Girls often opt away from STEM,
Math in particular, at young ages. This group strives to strengthen
technical and mathematical skills, teach financial lexicon, and
create solutions to overcome the gender gap in math and investing,
with a woman leader actively involved in teaching each program.
Leadership statistics of powerful investment firms repeatedly
demonstrate a lack of gender diversity in the C-suite and as money
managers. The nonprofit deploys technology and in-person training
to improve the diversity in talent slates and increase qualified
candidates reflecting all aspects of diversity, equity, and
inclusion, expanding the talent pipeline for interested and engaged
investment, technology and FinTech firms.
Contacts:
ING Americas
Melissa Kanter, + 646 424
7021
Melissa.Kanter@ing.com
Rock The Street, Wall Street
Kimberly Weinrick, + 917 224
5335
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SOURCE ING Americas