New York – October 12, 2022 – On October 13, 2022, New York City-based nonprofit Echoing Green will host its Big Bold Benefit in Manhattan. The benefit is a celebration of the organization’s global community of social innovators and their efforts to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
This year’s program will celebrate 35 years of Echoing Green’s impact and honor the leadership of Echoing Green’s Board Chair Emeriti Maya Ajmera, also a 1993 Echoing Green Fellow, and founding board member David C. Hodgson. Dave Hodgson and Maya Ajmera’s longtime leadership and continued commitment laid the groundwork for Echoing Green’s impact and the future of social innovation.
The event will be chaired by William E. Ford, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic. General Atlantic has been a steadfast champion of Echoing Green from inception, providing the organization with more than $11 million in funding to-date. With support from funders including General Atlantic, Echoing Green has identified and supported 901 social innovators working in 86 countries through its prestigious Fellowship program. Previous Fellows include former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (’91); political commentator Van Jones (’94); founder of Teach For America Wendy Kopp (’91); and the organization’s own President, Cheryl L. Dorsey (’92).
“Maya and Dave’s work laid the foundation for where Echoing Green is today: investing in visionary local leaders working at the intersection of social justice and social innovation to ensure all communities have every opportunity to thrive,” said Cheryl L. Dorsey, president of Echoing Green. “Their steadfast belief in the power of grassroots, community-led solutions is central to the big, bold change that Echoing Green is proud to honor at our benefit.”
Maya Ajmera received an Echoing Green Fellowship in 1993 to launch the Global Fund for Children (GFC), which she led for 18 years. GFC invests in innovative, community-based organizations working on behalf of young people worldwide. Since its founding, GFC has awarded nearly $51 million to more than 900 organizations catalyzing grassroots solutions to make a lasting impact on over 11 million children’s lives. Today, Maya is President and CEO of the Society for Science, an organization that produces world-class science competitions, award-winning journalism, and programs that unleash the potential of all young people to pursue STEM.
Dave Hodgson is a founding board member of Echoing Green and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of General Atlantic. After joining General Atlantic as its third investment professional in 1982, he helped build the firm with a singular vision of supporting entrepreneurs as they work to grow their businesses. Dave’s passion for and expertise in supporting entrepreneurs helped grow Echoing Green from just a handful of Fellows to a community of almost 1,000 social innovators under his leadership.
Generous sponsors of the Big Bold Benefit include Premier sponsors General Atlantic and Alignment Health. Leadership Circle sponsors are William E. Ford, Chairman & CEO, General Atlantic; Robbert and Jenny Vorhoff; and Steven and Roberta Denning.
To support Echoing Green and sustain the work of Echoing Green Fellows, please visit: https://echoinggreen.org/donate/
About Echoing Green:
For 35 years, Echoing Green has been on the front lines of solving the world’s biggest problems, raising up the transformational leaders willing to speak truth to power and challenge the status quo. The organization finds emerging leaders with the best ideas for social innovation as early as possible and sets them on a path to lifelong impact. Echoing Green’s community of nearly 1,000 social innovators includes past Fellows such as First Lady Michelle Obama and the founders of Teach For America, Center for Black Innovation, BlocPower, and One Acre Fund. Built and refined over three decades, Echoing Green discovers tomorrow’s leaders today, and then funds, connects, and supports a new generation of social impact leaders. For more information, visit www.echoinggreen.org.
