New York – Today, iMentor announced co-founder Rich Buery rejoined its board of directors following four years as New York City Deputy Mayor. Buery, who co-founded the non-profit organization in 1999, joins board chair and fellow co-founder, John Griffin, and other leading advocates for education on iMentor’s board of directors, including Mark Bezos, Katie Couric David Saltzman, and Julian Robertson.
Board members serve as advocates for the work of iMentor and actively ensure the organization’s strategic growth and sound management. Over the next five years, the board of directors will support the implementation of iMentor’s new 2018-2023 strategic plan, which will create 30,000 new mentoring relationships in almost 40 communities across the country.
“As one of the pioneers in our field, I’m thrilled to welcome Rich back to the iMentor community,” said Mike O’Brien, iMentor CEO. “Rich has built an inspiring career as an advocate for social change, including bringing his vision to the founding of our organization. His leadership will be critical as we enter our next phase of strategic growth. I look forward to working with Rich and the talented members of our board over the next five years as we expand our national footprint and deepen our reach.”
“Throughout his career, Rich has made a tremendous impact in creating a more equitable public education system in New York City,” said John A. Griffin, Chair, iMentor Board of Directors and Founder, Blue Ridge Capital. “For the past four-years I’ve been impressed by the gains he has made for the city in spearheading a range of complex projects designed to serve many of our most underserved communities. As we work to rebalance the odds for first-generation college students, I can think of no better advocate in this work than Rich.”
As Chief of Policy and Public Affairs, Buery currently leads the KIPP Foundation’s public policy, advocacy, marketing and communications efforts. He focuses on growing the KIPP network, advocating for policies that make it easier for students to afford college and overcome other barriers to success. Previously he served as Deputy Mayor to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, where he led key initiatives including Pre-K for All, which increased enrollment from 19,000 to 70,000 children in 18 months, and ThriveNYC, a comprehensive effort to improve New Yorkers’ mental health. As a lifelong advocate for social change, Rich has been leading strategic initiatives that support communities across the globe for over 20 years. While in college, he founded the Mission Hill Summer Program in a Roxbury, Massachusetts housing development, and went on to teach fifth grade at an orphanage in Bindura, Zimbabwe. After a brief stint as a civil rights lawyer, he co-founded iMentor.
“We know there is no greater predictor of upward mobility than education. The relationships that are built through the iMentor model are pivotal to allowing every young person to reach their full potential. I’m so excited to be a part of this movement. There is no job more important than putting young people on the path to the American dream, and that’s what iMentor is all about.” Rich Buery, iMentor Board of Directors and Chief of Policy and Public Affairs, KIPP.
Buery joins other civic leaders on iMentor’s board of directors from a range of sectors, including education, philanthropy, media, and finance.
About iMentor iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students from low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions. iMentor was created in 1999 by John Griffin, Richard Buery and Matt Klein. Launched with just 49 students in a single school in the South Bronx, today, iMentor serves nearly 9,000 students through our direct-service programs in New York City, Chicago, and the Bay Area and through our partnerships with local non-profit organizations that implement our model in 44 schools.
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