On September 9, Corporate Voices for Working Families (CVWF) awarded the Forum for Youth Investment its prestigious Non-Profit of the Year Award, recognizing the Forum's commitment to partnering with corporate partners and its excellence in ensuring that all children are "Ready by 21."

Below are featured clips from the press conference announcing the national launch of the Ready by 21 Challenge, aimed at helping state and local leaders change the odds for youth by changing the way they do business.

The six partners who in 2007 made formal commitments to work with the Forum to advance the Ready by 21 Challenge represent the education, government, nonprofit, business and community philanthropy sectors. Below are featured clips from the partner panel discussion at the National Launch in Washington, DC.

The six partners who in 2007 made formal commitments to work with the Forum to advance the Ready by 21 Challenge represent the education, government, nonprofit, business and community philanthropy sectors. Each was chosen because they had pledged to do business differently and sought out the Forum to help in some way.

The Forum for Youth Investment issues Ready by 21® Challenge to change the odds for youth by changing the way we do business.

Former Congressman Dick Gephardt and former Governor Tom Ridge join the Forum and national partners to move the Ready by 21 Challenge across the country – reaching communities in all 50 states over the next 5 years.

Twenty five years ago, the blue ribbon National Commission on Excellence in Education stunned the country by declaring:

“Our Nation is at risk. Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world. . . If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves. . . we have dismantled essential support systems . . . We have, in effect, been committing an act of unthinking, unilateral educational disarmament.”

"The Challenge" is the definitive guide to the key ideas and resources behind Ready by 21®.

After a decade of moving ideas to impact, the Forum for Youth Investment continues to forge innovative ideas, strategies and partnerships to strengthen solutions for young people and those who care about them. Learn more about the Forum's beginnings and work in the 10th Anniversary Organizational Brochure.

Attached are speaker biographies for the Ready by 21 Challenge National Launch Event on February 27, 2008.

The Ready by 21 Change Maker award is the highest honor presented by the Forum for Youth Investment. The award recognizes long-term achievement and impact in improving youth outcomes. Award recipients demonstrate a commitment to increasing the quality and quantity of youth investment and youth involvement in their community, state or at the national level.