Girls Who Code Expands Partnership with MetLife Foundation to Launch New Mentorship Program

New York, NY - (April 11, 2023) — Today, Girls Who Code, a non-profit working to close the gender gap in tech, announced Mentoring Corps, a new, free mentoring initiative launching this fall. The program will connect Girls Who Code high-school students with college-aged mentors and was created in partnership with MetLife Foundation. Mentoring Corps is the latest in Girls Who Code’s efforts to support the development of older students through mentoring and leadership opportunities.

The program will launch during the 2023 - 2024 school year and is open to Girls Who Code Clubs and College Loops members in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC. Through peer matching, high school-aged students will be paired with nearby college and university members to explore coding challenges, college life, and tech careers. College-aged participants will be able to develop their leadership capabilities, receive targeted financial literacy education (including support with developing SMART financial goals and identifying reliable financial literacy resources), and access guidance to prepare them to succeed in tech-related internships and jobs.

“At Girls Who Code, we know it’s not just about teaching students to code but giving them the tools and resources they need to succeed in their classrooms, communities, and the workforce,” said Dr. Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. “We are grateful to partner with MetLife Foundation on this program and look forward to working together to develop our country’s future tech leaders.”

In support of Girls Who Code’s 10th Anniversary, MetLife Foundation awarded the non-profit $3 million over three years to support participants preparing to enter the workforce with the tools and resources they need to succeed. MetLife Foundation's investment will support all stages of the pipeline by building capacity, including developing an innovative Mentoring Corps; supporting the Summer Immersion Program and Self-Paced Program; and, for the first time, enabling the dissemination of financial education to the Girls Who Code community.

“MetLife Foundation is excited about empowering the next generation to build lasting careers in STEM,” said Pawan Verma, Global CIO, MetLife, and Girls Who Code Board member. “This program will help accelerate efforts to close the gender gap by removing roadblocks and building bridges that bring more women into STEM fields and also helps keep them there. I look forward to seeing the profound impact it will have on shaping the careers of future women in tech.”

To learn more about Mentoring Corps, read this article from Dr. Tarika Barrett.

About Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st-century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has served 500,000 students through in-person and virtual programming, and 115,000 of our alumni are college or career-aged.

Girls Who Code has sparked culture change through marketing campaigns and advocacy efforts, generating 14 billion engagements globally. In 2019, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list, and in 2023 was named one of NonProfit Times’ Best Nonprofits to Work For. Follow the organization on social media @GirlsWhoCode.

About MetLife Foundation

At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility for underserved and underrepresented communities worldwide. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic inclusion, financial health, and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since 1976, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $900 million to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.MetLife.org.