The Giving Back Foundation is an initiative started by Charles Ruffolo alongside students from Haarlem Business School and was founded in 1999 by our founding fathers (Buford Alexander, John Padget, and Joop Saan) with the aim to support talented high school students with a bi-cultural background, aspiring first-generation college students, in their last two years of higher general secondary education or pre-university education as they transition towards the higher education that best matches their talents.

The students in the Giving Back Scholars Program came from environments where pursuing higher education is not a given. Their parents did not pursue (or did not pursue in the Netherlands) higher education. Consequently, these students lacked role models in their immediate surroundings and a relevant network. The Giving Back Foundation offered these students an activities program that includes mandatory workshops and optional events.

Over time, Giving Back has evolved into a foundation that supports aspiring first-generation college students from high school until they enter the job market as Young Professionals. Starting in 1999 with 15 students from OSB, it has grown into a community of 250 annually participating Scholars and Students who are supported through a cross-cultural mentoring and activities program, and 450 volunteers who help these talented, ambitious Scholars and Students reach their full potential.

Giving Back stands for a diverse society where everyone, regardless of background, gets an equal opportunity to develop their talent.

Our mission is to work together with our partners and volunteers to make a relevant contribution to increasing cultural diversity at the top of the business world and government. Together, we put diversity to work. This way, these young people can inspire other young people in the future and serve as role models.

Find all the info at their website https://www.givingback.nl/