Growing Leaders, One Experience at a Time

Youth visiting the Statue of Liberty during Spring Break

At Fiver, every season brings new opportunities for young people to explore, connect, and discover what they're capable of. This spring and summer, hundreds of Fivers have been building confidence, strengthening relationships, and preparing for their futures through experiences made possible by an incredible community of volunteers and partners.

Our spring programs laid the foundation. During Spring Break Mini Camp, 103 younger and older Fivers explored New York City together—from the Statue of Liberty and the Bronx Zoo to indoor rock climbing, roller skating, Governor's Island, and the New York Aquarium. Along the way, older participants naturally stepped into leadership roles, mentoring younger campers, encouraging peers to try new challenges, and helping create an inclusive community where everyone felt they belonged.

That same spirit carried into our eight-week Internship & Investment Camp, where 61 participants worked alongside volunteers from Neuberger, collaborated on team projects, strengthened their public speaking skills, and explored careers in finance and investing. Fiver staff watched quieter participants find their voices, first-time participants grow into confident contributors, and young people discover that leadership is about collaboration, communication, and lifting others up. We are especially grateful to Neuberger for its continued partnership—now in its 10th year of helping Fiver youth build skills, confidence, and career aspirations.

During Investment Camp, youth manage their own investment “portfolio” throughout the program. Pictured here with our volunteers from Neuberger, these Fivers had the top performing portfolios, a testament to the skills they learned!

As summer gets underway, those opportunities continue to grow. We've already welcomed 212 campers to Camp Fiver and 50 high school students into the first cycle of our Summer Job Training Program in Manhattan. By the end of the summer, we'll serve more than 400 youth at Camp Fiver and 80+ teens through Job Training.

Our campers are spending their days horseback riding, boating, fishing, weaving, swimming, and trying new experiences that build confidence, strengthen friendships, and create the sense of belonging that makes Camp Fiver so special. This summer, our camp community is supported by an incredible team of counselors and specialists from New York, Central New York, across the United States, and around the world—including South Africa, Jamaica, Hungary, and Ireland. We've also added Camper and Staff Support Specialists to ensure every young person has the encouragement and care they need to thrive.

Meanwhile, our Job Training participants are learning directly from professionals through workplace visits and hands-on workshops focused on communication, professionalism, financial literacy, networking, and career exploration. Thanks to partners including JPMorgan, EverBank, Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Digital Bridge, and Chobani, Fivers are gaining real-world insights while building the confidence to envision themselves in future careers.

Whether cheering on a friend at the climbing wall, introducing themselves during a networking event, paddling across the lake for the first time, or asking thoughtful questions during a corporate visit, these everyday moments are where growth happens. They are made possible by the volunteers, corporate partners, alumni, and community members who generously share their time, expertise, and encouragement with our young people.

As we continue through another unforgettable summer, we're grateful for the many partners who help bring Fiver's 10-year commitment to life—and for the countless moments, big and small, that help young people discover their strengths, build lasting relationships, and grow into the leaders they are becoming.