Eagle Academy students from New York City and New Jersey Shared an iconic moment with philanthropist Robert F. Smith when they rang the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Opening Bell® on Friday, November 12, 2021. Watch the ceremony in the video, below:

Mr. Smith who has for years inspired Eagle Academy students, recently donated nearly 15,000 tech stocks from the Vista Equity Partners’ portfolio in partnership with the Morehouse College Class of 2019. The donated shares were distributed to students, faculty and staff members of the schools for investment using the Goalsetter app. Goalsetter, created by CEO Tanya Van Court, is a platform that teaches students and their families about financial literacy, investments, savings and healthy spending habits.

This marks a first in Smith’s philanthropy, where a group that benefited from a previous donation, has now stepped into a position to partner with him in giving to others. This is a fulfillment of Smith’s wish when he paid off the student loan debts for the Morehouse College graduates in 2019.

Both Smith and Van Court were present at the NYSE event to cheer on the students and to get the word out about Goalsetter’s new corporate challenge: “One Stock. One Future.” Smith and Van Court hope businesses and executives will take part in the new initiative by choosing to donate 1,000 shares to give Black and Latinx students across the United States a chance to learn how the world of finance works. The goal is financial education and also building the next generation of business owners and investors, who will reinvest in their communities.

“I hope this opportunity not only inspires these young students to explore the world of investments, but that it also serves as a catalyst for other companies to join this initiative to arm our youth with the power to control their futures,” Smith said in an October statement regarding the donation.

Read more about Smith’s donation and Goalsetter’s “One Stock. One Future.” corporate challenge.