On Saturday July 29th nearly 400 supporters, executives and top leaders in business, and tech attended All Star Code’s 6th Annual Summer Benefit, helping raise over $1.2 million to fund educational programs which will develop a new generation of young men of color who can thrive in the technological world. This is the largest number raised by the Summer Benefit to date. 

The evening showcased nine interactive stations, each featuring a project developed by All Star Code student scholars. Projects ranged from CodeABLE, a program with audio capability developed do allow the visually impaired and blind to easily code by voice— to SAASH Marketing, a tech and development company that is already doing so well it has offices in NYC, Nepal and India. Guests voted on their favorite projects and at the end of the evening it was announced that Gary Coltrane, creator of DayStrive was the winner, receiving $500 and also earning an internship opportunity with Infor. DayStrive is a technological platform designed to lower recidivism rates in the United States by providing formerly incarcerated individuals access to tools that are needed to acclimate into society.

The tech industry is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy and yet, only 1% of VC-backed startups have a Black or Latino founder and only 9% of the tech workforce is Black or Latino. All Star Code Founder & CEO, Christina Lewis, spoke at the benefit, explaining why she addressed this issue by creating the organization. 

“In 2011 I walked into my first tech conference and was so struck at how few black and brown faces were in the audience,” says Lewis. I was a business journalist at the time and knew that this was a disaster for the Black and Latino communities because tech was the engine of job growth and innovation and if we weren’t participating in it, we were going to be left behind in the 21st century. Being a reporter, I researched and I saw saw that there were a handful or organizations who were beginning to work to help those left behind catch up, but there was a group that was left behind and that was young men of color.” 

All Star Code is one of just a few organizations that prepare the underserved group of Black and Latino young men for careers in the innovation economy. Unlike most coding programs, they don’t just focus on computer science; they also introduce soft skills that are important for a career and tech startup culture. Funding raised helps support their scholars beyond All Star Code Programs as well, as each student leaves the program with a laptop, enabling them to continue their learning and growth. 

In addition to celebrating the young scholars, Ryan Williams, Founder and CEO of the New York-based tech company, Cadre, was announced as All Star Code’s newest ambassador. The benefit also honored business and tech trailblazers Charles Phillips— CEO of Infor, and Sheila Lirio Marcelo— Founder, Chairwoman and CEO of care.com. 

Of the honor, Lirio said, “I’m truly honored and humbled by this recognition. For those of us who work in tech and innovation, the work being done by Christina and the All Star Code team is a reminder of the obligation we all share to make sure that innovation and inclusion go hand-in-hand. Technology can be a great equalizer, and the All Star Code approach to creating economic opportunity for historically under- served communities is the kind of inclusive innovation leading toward a future where no one gets left behind.” 

Co-chairs of the event included: Frank A. Baker (Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Siris Capital), Valentino D. Carlotti (Global Head of Business Development, Sotheby’s) and Loida Nicolas Lewis (Chair, Reginald F. Lewis Foundation). Additional guests included: Hill Harper, Lyor Cohen & Xin Li-Cohen, Rachelle Hruska MacPherson & Sean MacPherson, Mayor David Dinkins, Miss USA’s Kára McCullough, Elliot Breece, Frank Baker, to name a few. 

Sponsors and Anchor Partners of All Star Code include: Siris Capital, Infor, MacQuarie, Sidley, Vista Equity Partners, Sotheby’s, AT&T Impact, Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Google, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., MLB, Moët Hennessy USA, and more.

About All Star Code All Star Code is a computer science organization that creates creates economic opportunity by developing a new generation of boys and young men of color with an entrepreneurial mindset who have the tools they need to succeed in a technological world.

Founded by award-winning journalist, Christina Lewis in 2013, All Star Code partners with industry- leading companies, including Google, Goldman Sachs, and AT&T, to host educational programs in New York City, New Jersey and Pittsburgh. To date, All star code has educated over 400 young men via their flagship “Summer Intensive” program, a six-week course that introduces students to basic web development skills, an entrepreneurial mindset and a network of peers who also love building things that matter. 85 percent of those young men intend to major in computer science-related subjects. 

Christina is building on the legacy of her late father, the Wall Street financier and first African American billionaire, Reginald F. Lewis. For the past six years she and All Star Code have focused on education, mentorship and access and advocacy in order to close wealth, income and opportunity gaps and continue along this path in their efforts to help their students succeed.

For more information check out www.allstarcode.com. 

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