Prep for Prep Lilac Ball Raises $4.7 Million in Support of Academic, Leadership, and Professional Advancement

The 2024 Lilac Ball, held Monday, June 10 at the New York Marriott Marquis, raised more than $4.7 million to support education, leadership, and professional development opportunities for students of color in New York City. The gathering of nearly 1,200 guests was the most successful Lilac Ball since 2018 and one of our highest grossing galas in the last 20 years. 

For the first time in the event’s 38-year history, we recognized a female alum–Paula Campbell Roberts (X), Chief Investment Strategist for KKR's Global Wealth business and a Managing Director on the Global Macro, Balance Sheet and Risk (GBR) team. As honoree, she raised more than $1 million for the organization. 

“Prep was founded on the bold idea that if you equip talented students with the tools to achieve their full potential, the results will be transformational for their families, their communities and society as a whole,” said Paula during her remarks at the gala. “It’s a remarkable thing at age 10 or 11 to be encouraged to dream beyond what you’ve seen, and even more remarkable to believe you can achieve it.”

As Chief Investment Strategist, Paula advises KKR's wealth management partners on macroeconomics and asset allocation. As a Managing Director on the GBR team, she also works with KKR’s investment teams on the identification and evaluation of macro considerations as it relates to both deployment and monetization opportunities. She is a member of the firm’s Global Wealth Executive Committee, GBR Senior Leadership team. 

Prior to joining KKR, Paula was an economist at Morgan Stanley and a management consultant at Bain & Co. She is one of 15 members of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Economic Advisory Panel and a member of the Economic Club of New York. Paula earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Yale University. She is currently a Lincoln Center Leadership Fellow and serves on the boards of the New York City Ballet and the American Friends of Jamaica.

“Thank you for honoring us all with your encouragement, your brilliance, your outstanding and aspirational vision for what’s possible for us as a dynamic community of over 1,300 students, and over 4,000 alumni,” said Prep for Prep CEO Ruth Jurgensen. “As the members of the Class of 2024 meet you tonight, let them imagine what’s possible for themselves as they hear your Prep story, and most importantly how you specifically made sure, even at a young age, to bring the community along with you, as you paved your way. Let them be inspired by your generosity and achievements, by your family, your friends, your wonderful and amazing former and current colleagues, who are here to support your honor tonight.”  

View photos from the event

Student Stories
Prep for Prep students recognize the transformational impact the program has on students, their families and their communities. Three students–one in our Preparatory Component and two graduating high school seniors–shared insights into their Prep Journeys at the Lilac Ball. 



Sixth-grader Mayla C. (XLVI/Riverdale Country School) shared the trepidation she initially had about Prep for Prep and the sacrifices she would have to make in order to participate in Preparatory Component. However, she soon learned that the benefits of being in the program would outweigh what she had to give up. “At first, I worried that Prep would take away the life I loved, but at Riverdale I can pursue the passions–singing and tennis–that I had to give up during the Preparatory Component. Prep has laid a path for a better future for me and I’m excited for the next part of this journey.”



Prep for Prep Senior Speaker Leonardo L. (XLI/Poly Prep ’24, Cornell) shared what he has learned from his love of art and from witnessing the impact of COVID-19 on his studies and his family’s business. “A painting that will forever be ingrained in my heart is [my tio’s] reassuring smile during the most overwhelming period of his life….  [E]very single day he reminded me of how proud he was of me. His pride gave me faith in pursuing one of my dreams. I never wanted my uncle or family to have to suffer because of the lack of knowledge on how to keep a business alive. This inspired my desire to attend business school so that my education will support my family’s future.”



PREP 9 Senior Speaker Christopher M. (P9 XXXIII/Hotchikiss ’24, Yale) discussed the impact Prep for Prep has already had and the imprint he and his classmates have already been able to make on the word. “We are the hope and dream of every pure-hearted educator, philanthropist, social entrepreneur, or lover of life and learning in this room and beyond,” said Christopher. “We are the yearning of our ancestors come to manifest; the realization of what we never thought that we could have. We have entered spaces that weren’t made for us, and we haven’t simply taken up that space—we’ve dominated and redefined it. And we’ve created and left behind spaces of our own.”

The Next Chapter
In the fall, many Prep and PREP 9 students will enroll in some of the top colleges and universities in the country. Top college choices include Cornell University, Tufts University, University of Pennsylvania, Wesleyan University, and Yale University. 

View the full college list
 
About the Lilac Ball 
Since 1986, the Lilac Ball has served as Prep’s signature annual fundraising event. It honors leaders committed to education and youth and celebrates Prep’s graduating high school seniors. All funds raised through the Lilac Ball go directly to Prep programming; event-related expenses are underwritten by the Board.
 
The 2024 Lilac Ball was supported by Jim DeMare, Bank of America • Marie-Josée & Henry R. Kravis • The Maher Family Foundation • The Roberts Foundation • Harriet & Eric Rothfeld, The Rothfeld Family Foundation • John and Barbara Vogelstein Foundation • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz: Susan & Martin Lipton, Karessa L. Cain & Michael Hay, Jeannemarie O'Brien & Yves-Achille Masimir and Kevin Schwartz & Samantha Lipton • Anita Volz Wien • Joseph Bae & Janice Lee • Lisa & Dick Cashin • Sheldon Gilbert (IX) • Google • John Hall and Nicole Levin Mesard, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP • M. Robin Krasny • Elaine & Ken Langone • The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation • Henry & Laura McVey • Daniel M. Neidich & Brooke Garber Foundation • Kate & Bob Neihaus • Amie & Scott Nuttall • Megan Sheetz & Trevor Price and many additional donors. Proceeds from the event support Prep’s mission of creating a more diverse national leadership pool.