After 26 years, Prudential’s Spirit of Community Awards will officially be known as “Prudential Emerging Visionaries.” The campaign has a refined mission: to celebrate young people ages 14-18 bringing fresh perspectives and new solutions to pressing financial and societal challenges in their communities. The program now puts a spotlight on financial wellness as a foundation on which to build a solid future, championing projects that will help people improve their financial well-being and create thriving communities.
Prudential Financial's Director of Inclusive Solutions Heather Cestaro says the program builds on the legacy and momentum of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the country’s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.
"For many than 26 years, Prudential has recognized over 150-thousand young people throughout the United States through the Prudential Spirt of Community program. The impressive vision of these young people really inspired us to reimagine the program. This next chapter supports Prudential's purpose of achieving financial prosperity for all."
Cestaro stresses Emerging Visionaries now puts the spotlight on financial wellness as a foundation on which to build a solid future, championing projects that will help people improve their financial well-being and create thriving communities.
In April 2022, 20 students will be awarded for their solutions to social issues.
"We are looking for people who are working on environmental, racial justice or educational issues in their communities."
Five students will be awarded for their solutions to financial barriers.
"We are looking for people who are creating job opportunities, addressing student debt or starting an accelerator to finance youth-led adventures. We really see these young people driving change in their communities. We really want to help amplify that work and really make an impact in our communities that we serve."
Each winner will be awarded $5,000 plus an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, for a recognition event. During this event, the five honorees in the financial solutions category will pitch their ideas to Prudential leaders and one grand prize winner will receive $15,000.
Winners will also have the opportunity to consult with Prudential leaders about strategies to advance their work, and to participate in a coaching program with employees to refine their projects.
Prudential is partnering with Ashoka, a leading organization in the social impact sector, who will help develop winners’ skills through ongoing workshops and online courses with advisory support from the Financial Health Network, a leading authority on financial health and longtime partner of The Prudential Foundation.
Applications for the program are open now through November 4. Awards are open to students ages 14-18 in the U.S. Prudential will continue to operate Spirit of Community in countries where the company has a significant business presence including Brazil, China, India and Japan, and will transition to the new operating model in subsequent program cycles.
For more information about Prudential Emerging Visionaries, including how to apply, visit prudential.com/emergingvisionaries.
You can see the entire interview with Heather Cestaro at https://fb.watch/8BHqzOH9sW/.
