Michael Koester (left) with 30th Anniversary Celebration honoree Robert V. Delaney, Sr. in 2009.
Michael Koester first discovered CYD (then CDI) as a young employee at Goldman Sachs exploring multiple volunteer opportunities in his community, downtown NYC. When Robin Hood suggested he consider joining CDI’s board, Koester responded enthusiastically.
That was in 2004. Today Koester has served CYD for 21 years – thirteen years on the Board of Directors, including as Vice Chair, and eight on the Board of Advisors. “Being a part of CYD provided great psychic income; it was so gratifying to feel that I could help with my time. The mission was the main thing. To me, what CYD was providing made it like a loving family member: ‘Do you need some tutoring? Do you need a MetroCard? Do you need an internship to earn some income?’ I found that really compelling. I also really loved working with the team, including two Executive Directors, and the other Board members. That was a critical and necessary component for me. Everyone is so dedicated.”
Koester helped guide CYD through a period of great transition, from serving Manhattan Comprehensive to expanding to City-As-School and The High School for Health Professions and Human Services, and establishing the CYD Career Academy. “Bringing the magic of CYD to a greater population was a big moment.” He is proud that he was able to be part of “a cohort that brought stability and longevity to CYD,” crucially taking its leadership into a second phase beyond its founders.
He is also part of a long tradition of Goldman Sachs employees making vital contributions to CYD as board members and volunteers. Koester is the co-founder of 5C Investment Partners, to which he has brought the experience of 25 years at Goldman Sachs. “It’s great to see that Goldman Sachs Gives is being recognized at the CYD 30th Anniversary Celebration for its important role.”
Koester remembers the first MCNDHS graduation he attended: “The passion of the students was really incredible. You could see how important the graduation was to everyone: students, families, faculty, administration. I could see the progress with students, and I loved the role that CYD was playing in that. There are so few organizations that focus on CYD’s population of older youth, which deserves to be focused on. I would like to see CYD continue to deliver on its mission for another 30 years.”
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