Alice Paul Institute receives $2,500 grant, mentorship from Investors Bank

Investors Bank recently provided the Alice Paul Institute with a $2,500 grant from its foundation, and sent one of their own to be a mentor at an Alice Paul Institute summer program for high school students.

“Investors Bank came to South Jersey and immediately made a difference in the non-profit community. We are happy to have Investors Bank as a partner in our programs at the Alice Paul Institute,” said Lucienne Beard, Alice Paul Institute executive director. “Investors Bank is helping girls learn leadership skills and making a real impact on our South Jersey community.”

Joy Neal, customer service representative at the Marlton Investors Bank branch, volunteered to become one of 35 mentors for the Professional Leadership Institute for high school girls. It was part of the program’s new college readiness component, held from July 13 to 17. During the week, 26 girls went on college tours and participated in workshops, as well as met with mentors from the area. In order to be accepted to the program, students were invited to apply and write several essays; no student was turned away.

“It was really nice talking to the girls. They asked me if it was hard being a woman in the workplace and I said of course there are difficulties, but we just have to overcome the obstacles and keep pushing forward,” said Neal, who received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University in Newark and is now taking accounting classes at Burlington County College. “I wish I had this opportunity when I was in high school — I would have done it. I can’t wait to participate again next year.”

In a speed networking session, several girls asked Neal about her choice of major, switching careers, favorite things about her job, workday, and mentors.

“(Joy) was very helpful. I asked her about her career and what she did to get there. She gave me great advice — she told me to make sure I know what I want to do and then to pursue it and never give up,” said Maya Savior, a student participant in the program who will be a senior at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill in the fall. Savior hopes to attend Rutgers-Camden in fall 2016, to pursue her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. “The Alice Paul Institue program gave me a lot of resources to be able to network and get further in life.”

As a parting gift, Neal gave each student an Investors Bank bag filled with branded items from the Bank.