Network to Success 2008 was 'mad fun,' and a chance to 'meet some cool people' in the enthusiastic review of many of the 150 youth attending the event on Wednesday May 7 at the NYU Kimmel Center. The evening, a collaboration between New Yorkers for Children and Children's Services' Office of Youth Development (OYD), provided an opportunity for the young people to interact with luminaries from the entertainment industry including Joy Bryant, actress/model, Kevin Liles, EVP of Warner Music Group, David Koepp, screenwriter of films including the upcoming Indiana Jones, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, and Jurassic Park, Bill Goldman, Oscar-winning screenwriter of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All The President's Men, Marathon Man, and Princess Bride, Chris Lighty, CEO of Violator Records and responsible for launching the careers of 50 Cent and Missy Elliot, David Saslow, SVP of Video Production and Promotion at Atlantic Records, Leslee Dart, CEO of 42 West, Hype Williams, acclaimed music video director, Meryl Poster, producer, Mike Jarrick, host of Fox Network's The Mike and Juliet Show, Eric Eisner, producer and president of L+E Productions, Lauren Glassberg, WABC-TV reporter and Tim Kash, MTV News Anchor.

Network to Success provides young people in foster care with the opportunity to learn more about industries they may be considering as career choices. The event has been held 3 times a year since 2004, each time focusing on different types of careers of interest to young people in foster care. Children's Services Commissioner John Mattingly urged the young people present not to let themselves by defined by their time in care; to dream big but be prepared for life.”

While giving the young people a glimpse of the glamour and creative and financial rewards that are associated with the entertainment industry, many of the panelists warned about the pitfalls. “You always have to be worried about the next job and you need to learn to budget your money. I can make what seems a lot of money for one movie but then not work for another 6 months. I have to be able to make that money last until the next job… not blow it on a fancy car or something else frivolous,” cautioned Merchant Ivory film editor, John David Allen.

Panelist actress Joy Bryant told the aspiring entertainment professionals in the audience that they should not let being in foster care be a barrier, “as long as you are willing to work hard you will be able to achieve whatever you set out to accomplish,” she said. Kevin Liles, President of Warner Brothers Music, advised the youths that they should find a mentor, and emulate that person, and be passionate about their career choice. “Find a job that you would give up everything for, and that will by your life's work.”

“Network to Success events are terrific opportunities not only to expose young people to jobs and industries they never before knew existed, but also to serve as inspiration to our young people in care. These events encourage them to continue to pursue their education to achieve their career goals. We are so grateful to all the panelists and look forward to the continued success of this vital program” said NYFC Executive Director, Susan Magazine.

Young people attending the event came from several agencies including Abbott House, Cardinal McCloskey, Children's Village, Coalition for Hispanic Families, Edwin Gould Services, Episcopal Social Services, Graham Windham, Harlem Dowling, Jewish Board of Family Caring Services, Jewish Child Caring Agencies, Little Flower, Mercy First, New York Foundling, Salvation Army, Seamen's Society, St. Christopher Ottilie, St. Dominic's, and St. Vincent's.

Also participating in the event were NYFC Board of Directors and Friends Committee members including Nicholas Scoppetta, Susan Burden, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Donya Archer Bommer, Susan Shin, Stephanie LaCava, Martin Dessoffy, Rory Hermelee, Eric Brettschneider and Howard Kuo.