October 24th, 2011 Fundraiser and Auction at the legendary Copacabana

September 21, 2011 (New York, NY) — Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) announced that financial services professionals from across the industry, led by members of the MCNY Board of Trustees, will host “Network for a Cause.”  The October 24, 2011 fundraiser and auction will be held at the legendary, newly re‑opened Copacabana in New York City.  All proceeds from the event will go directly to support scholarship programs for students in MCNY’s Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education and the School of Management.

Host and Auctioneer for the event, Tom Matthews (Co-Chair of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and past President & CEO of Global Private Client Group, Citi Smith Barney, now a part of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney) said, “I’m honored to be hosting this event. It shows how willing people in financial services are to come together for a worthy cause.”

The items to be auctioned range from music celebrity-signed guitars to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tickets, trips to Italy and Broadway shows. There is something for everyone being donated daily from every industry.

“We’re overwhelmed by this generous gesture. There are many hard-working, deserving students who will receive the scholarships they need as a result of the success of this event. The need is particularly acute now that Pell grants have been reduced for students like ours who attend school year round,” said Vinton Thompson, president of MCNY.

Founded by Audrey Cohen in 1964, MCNY offers urban adults, many with limited means, the opportunity to pursue Associates, Bachelors or Masters degrees while continuing to work and raise their families. Purpose-Centered Education is the idea that everything learned in the classroom should be relevant to real-world experiences.  It is based on the premise that students achieve high academic standards when they use their knowledge and skills to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others.  MCNY “Purpose-Centered Education” has produced thousands of MCNY graduates who have become the next generation of teachers, entrepreneurs and corporate executives.

“My mother’s goal was to empower people to improve their lives and the lives of others through relevant, purpose-centered education.  She believed the real test of learning is not in what we know but in what we can accomplish with what we know. With her colleagues, she developed a new model of education and believed everyone should have equal access to it. Like my mother, I am dedicated to working with friends and colleagues to continue this vision and help more students pursue their dreams,” said Wendy Cohen, Vice Chair of the MCNY Board of Trustees, daughter of Audrey Cohen, and organizer of the event.

Individuals interested in attending the event may buy tickets online at mcny.edu/donation. For those who cannot attend but wish to contribute to the cause, go to mcny.edu/about/giving.php.