Breakthrough New York Honored Macquarie Group and Melody Rollins at Annual Gala
The organization raised over $900,000 at first in-person benefit since 2019
Breakthrough New York honored Macquarie Group and Melody Rollins at its 2022 Gala: Dream Big, Aim High on May 3rd. The event raised over $900,000 for its educational programs that serve students from the 7th grade through college.
Macquarie Group has partnered with Breakthrough New York since 2019, and was instrumental in launching a college coach program.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the work [Breakthrough New York does]. I’m also proud of Macquarie’s ongoing efforts to support this organization and level the playing field for the next generation,” says John Darmanin, Senior Managing Director, Head of Credit-Americas at Macquarie and Breakthrough New York board member.
“As a funder and a volunteer, it’s so impressive to witness this organization’s growth and commitment to breaking through and breaking down barriers for the students that they serve,” says Gena Upshaw, Staff Engagement Lead at Macquarie Foundation.
Melody Rollins, head of core institutional client service at Bridgewater Associates, is a strong advocate for Breakthrough New York and its mission. Her leadership is demonstrative of Breakthrough New York’s core values, and she continues to champion the organization to other leaders in the financial industry.
“It’s truly an honor to receive this recognition because my heart is about serving young people and creating opportunities. If you can broaden their perspective and create a window, you can fundamentally change their trajectory. And that’s exactly what Breakthrough New York does,” says Melody.
To watch the full recording of the gala’s programming, visit our YouTube page.
Breakthrough New York welcomed over 300 guests at Guastavino’s in Manhattan. Funds raised from the benefit will go towards securing enrichment, access, and mentorship resources for its cohort of over 500 students.
About Breakthrough New York
Breakthrough New York is a ten-year academic and social enrichment program that prepares students from low-income backgrounds to succeed in competitive high schools, colleges, and careers. The non-profit organization serves over 500 students from grades seven through college. Over 90% of Breakthrough students graduate from college each year.
About Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group (Macquarie) is a global financial services group providing clients with asset management, retail and business banking, wealth management, leasing and asset financing, market access, commodity trading, renewables development, specialist advice, access to capital and principal investment. It focuses on innovation, careful risk management and delivering sustained long-term value for clients, partners, investors, staff and the broader communities in which it operates.
About Melody Rollins
Melody Rollins is the head of core institutional client service at Bridgewater Associates, a global macro investment firm. With over 25 years of client service, marketing and product development for institutional investors, Melody is innovating the way her team delivers world-class client service by leveraging technology and digital platforms to deepen engagement with the firm’s unique investment insights. She has an MBA with a focus on financial engineering from MIT Sloan and a BS in international affairs from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. In addition, Melody holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations.
