Spring wrapped up with a lot happening across the FGI community. Here is some of what we have been up to.
A Cultivation Event Rooted in Student Voice
In early June, FGI welcomed a group of guests for an intimate evening. Two FGI tutors shared what the program has meant to them and to their students: Muhdee Nawab, a recent graduate of Lehman College in the Bronx, and Giovanna Santos, from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
Muhdee spoke about Diomary, a sophomore in his group who started the program like her classmates, unsure what a few lessons on personal finance could offer her. Over time, her questions grew sharper. She asked about compounding, stocks versus bonds, what makes a business worth investing in. She visited a corporate partner's office on a career day and recently presented part of her FGI capstone at the Financial Education Festival hosted by NYC Public Schools.
As Muhdee put it, watching Diomary's progress showed him that FGI is not just about financial education. It is about giving young people the tools to change the trajectory of their lives and their families' lives.
Giovanna, whose own parents immigrated to the United States, spoke about a student who came from a similar background. Because she could relate to their experience, her student felt comfortable opening up and asking questions. That trust made the lessons land differently. It is a reminder that who teaches the material can matter as much as the material itself.
Hearing directly from the people doing the work made for a memorable evening. We're grateful to everyone who joined us.
Career Days with Raymond James and William Blair
On May 20, FGI hosted Career Days with two of our corporate partners: Raymond James and William Blair. FGI students from Brooklyn and The Bronx in New York got a firsthand look at careers in finance, hearing directly from professionals about what the industry looks like and how to get there.
These sessions are one of the ways we bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunity. We're grateful to both firms for opening their doors and for the meaningful partnership.
FGI at the Inspire Foundation’s SPARK Golf Tournament
Earlier this month, Brian Cabanban, our Head of Development, was invited to speak at the Inspire Brands Foundation’s SPARK Golf Tournament. During the reception, he shared FGI's work and what it means to be part of the SPARK Nonprofit Accelerator alongside other mission-driven organizations.
It was a great opportunity to represent FGI in front of an engaged audience of supporters and leaders invested in building opportunities for the next generation. Our thanks to the Inspire Brands Foundation for including us and for their continued support of FGI. organizations.
Team FGI: NYC Marathon 2026
Four runners will represent FGI at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon this November: Saverio Kaufman, David Harris, Jack Sarson, and Sophie MacKeigan. Together they're aiming to raise $20,000 to expand access to investing education for high school students.
Thank you for being part of the FGI community.
— The FGI Team
