Goldman Sachs, NYC Department of Education and Food Education Fund Announce $600,000 for Student Scholarships & Groundbreaking Career Readiness Program

  • Through partnership with Food Education Fund, Goldman Sachs Gives will provide $600,000 for direct scholarships to NYC Culinary Arts High-School students over the next two years and new “Game Change” pilot to enable culinary students across the city to graduate with an associate's degree from CUNY debt-free while gaining industry experience.
  • Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, NYC Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks and NBA Star Kevin Love participated in a cooking competition with student chefs and judges Missy Robbins, Dana Cowin and Nicolas Jammet.

NEW YORK, May 11, 2022 – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), the New York City Department of Education and the Food Education Fund today announced $600,000 for a new college scholarship fund and groundbreaking college and career readiness program for high school students in the culinary arts. Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO David Solomon was personally moved by the event and added $100,000 through Goldman Sachs Gives on top of $500,000 already committed.  

Through a partnership with the Food Education Fund, Goldman Sachs Gives will provide $600,000 for direct scholarships to high school students over the next two years and a new “Game Change” pilot program that will enable culinary and hospitality-focused students across the city to graduate with an associate's degree from CUNY debt-free while gaining industry experience. The funding will support the pilot and initial phases of the program launching in the falls of 2022 and 2023.

“New York would be nothing without its world-class restaurants, and we’re excited to see what the next generation of culinary students has to offer,” said David Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. “We’re proud to partner with the New York City Department of Education and the Food Education Fund to help these talented students get the scholarship support, training and hands-on experience they need.”

“As Schools Chancellor, ensuring that our students graduate high school with practical skills and resources needed to achieve success in a field they are passionate about is one of our top priorities,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “I am grateful to David Solomon and Goldman Sachs Gives for their generous donation to our students. The culinary arts is a part of the fabric of New York City and I am excited to see all the amazing things our students create and accomplish.”

“These students are passionate about food and hospitality and it’s inspiring to see their dedication on display in the kitchen,” said Sean Feeney, board co-chair of the Food Education Fund and co-founder of Grovehouse. “The Food Education Fund is proud to partner with Goldman Sachs Gives and the New York City Department of Education to provide direct college scholarships and create a fantastic new training and associate’s degree program that will enable students to sharpen their skills and get ahead.” 

The announcement took place at the Food and Finance High School in Manhattan. Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO David Solomon, NYC Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks and NBA star and philanthropist Kevin Love participated in a cooking competition with students using ingredients grown at the school and donated by the Food Education Fund. Chancellor Banks' team was declared the winner by judges Chef Missy Robbins, former editor in chief of Food and Wine Magazine Dana Cowin, sweetgreen co-founder and co-CEO Nicolas Jammet and scientist Philson Warner, the founder of the Cornell Aquaponics and Hydroponics Labs at Food and Finance High School.

The event is the culmination of a 12-week campaign between Goldman Sachs Gives, Grovehouse and the Food Education Fund to provide food insecure students across the five boroughs with weekly groceries containing fresh, high-quality ingredients. The program provides reliable and robust food access to students and their households. The team at Grovehouse and volunteers through Goldman Sachs Gives have packed, labeled, and distributed groceries to 100 students on a weekly basis at Food Education Fund’s partner schools, the Food & Finance High School, High School of Hospitality Management and Brooklyn STEAM Center. The initiative serves students across the five boroughs, with 85% living below the poverty line.  

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About Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment banking, securities, investment management and consumer banking to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.

Through Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor-advised fund, Goldman Sachs’ current and retired senior employees work together to recommend grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations to help them achieve their goals. Since 2010, Goldman Sachs Gives has granted more than $2bn to over 8,000 nonprofits in 100 countries globally.

About FEF
The Food Education Fund is a 501 c(3) non-profit based in New York City dedicated to enriching the lives and education of culinary focused public high school students and alumni. 

About Grovehouse
Grovehouse is a hospitality company cofounded by Sean Feeney & Chef Missy Robbins that is based in Brooklyn, New York. Grovehouse owns and operates Italian restaurants Lilia & Misi as well as the fresh pasta & Italian specialties company MP.