Network to Success Introduces Youth in Foster Care to Sports Professionals

New York City youth in foster care rubbed shoulders with some of the brightest stars and influential professionals in the sports world at Network for Success, the semi-annual networking event for 150 high school and college students in foster care hosted by New Yorkers For Children (NYFC), in collaboration with Children's Services. The event was held on June 2 at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.

Alonzo Mourning (left) and Alina Cho, CNN correspondent and NYFC Friends Committee Member have the full attention of youth in roundtable discussion.

Panelists included retired NBA player and former foster child Alonzo Mourning; New York Giants defensive end, Justin Tuck; sportscaster and expert in sports medicine, Dr. Marvell Scott; Founder and Chairman of Chelsea Piers, Roland Betts; Senior Client Manager at Octagon Football, Jennifer Carr; and President of IMG Sports & Entertainment, George Pyne; VP of Community Relations for the NBA, Todd Jacobson, and moderator, New York Daily News sports columnist and bestselling author, Mike Lupica.

Former NBA star, Alonzo Mourning, third from left, with other panelists, from left Jennifer Carr, Cie-Jai Brown, and Todd Jacobson.

Children's Services Commissioner John Mattingly thanked the panelists for being an inspiration to young people in care.  "I very much appreciate your words of inspiration to our young people. We do what we can to give them the foundation and the basic skills necessary to help them become independent adults, but meeting successful professionals like you inspires them to dream and to achieve."

NYFC Executive Director Susan Magazine said "Sports Network to Success was New Yorkers For Children's 11th event of this kind, and we are thrilled to continue providing valuable networking and learning opportunities to so many young people in foster care in New York City. Thanks to our panelists from the sports industry, this event allowed high school and college students in foster care to engage directly with sports icons and role models to learn about careers they may not have otherwise considered. From athletes and physical therapists to journalists and doctors, many professions in the sports industry were represented."

Children's Services Commissioner and NYFC Board member John Mattingly, center, NYFD Commissioner and NYFC Board member Nicholas Scoppetta, right, and Mike Lupica.

Network to Success panels provide young people in foster care with the chance to network with a "dream team" of professionals in various industries, and to learn about exciting career opportunities.  Panelists offer invaluable insight, guidance, and inspiration to young adults in foster care who greatly benefit from exposure to a wide range of careers in their fields of interest.

Past Network to Success events have focused on the fashion, entertainment, hospitality, and hip hop industries, featuring panelists such as Kevin Liles, Russell Simmons, Joy Bryant, Elie Tahari, Bill Goldman, David Koepp, Danyel Smith, John Varvatos, Fern Mallis, Hype Williams, Damon Dash, and others.

Network to Success panel members, left to right are: Dr. Marvell Scott, Francis Cuttita, George Pyne, Jennifer Carr, Cie-Jai Brown, Alonzo Mourning, Todd Jacobson, David Newman, Lynda Hamilton, Ron George, and Mark Crandall.

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