From 40 students in New York City to more than 85,000 nationally, Basta celebrates a decade of connecting talent to opportunity alongside alumni, corporate partners, and higher education leaders.
Basta alumni celebrate the organization’s tenth anniversary.
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Basta, a national nonprofit working to close the employment gap for first-generation college students, marked its tenth anniversary on October 20 with its Once-in-a-Decade Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall. The celebration brought together alumni, corporate and philanthropic leaders, and higher education partners to reflect on a decade of expanding career access and Basta's ambition to impact one million careers by 2030.
Founded in New York City in 2016 with just 40 students, Basta has grown into a tech-enabled nonprofit reaching more than 85,000 students across 300+ college campuses.
"For too many first-generation college students, the difference between landing a strong first job and being overlooked comes down to who they know and which doors happen to open," said Basta Founder and CEO Sheila Sarem. "Over the past decade, we've seen what becomes possible when we connect talented young people with the knowledge, networks, and opportunities they deserve. Our ambition is to extend that impact to one million careers by 2030."
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez with a Basta alum
That impact came to life through alumni stories shared throughout the evening. Among them was Keyshawn Wright, a 2018 Basta alum who described how mentorship and exposure to new career paths helped him navigate his first professional opportunity. Today, Wright is a director in technology program management at Morgan Stanley.
"Never underestimate the ripple effect of making a connection. When you open a door for a first-gen student, they'll run right through it," Wright told the audience.
The evening also honored Bloomberg with Basta's First Champion Award, recognizing the company as Basta's first employer partner in 2019 and celebrating a relationship that has helped shape the organization's approach to connecting first-generation talent with professional networks and career opportunities. In a special video message, Bloomberg founder and former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg reflected on the partnership, which has engaged more than 1,000 Bloomberg employees as volunteers and connected more than 500 Basta participants with Bloomberg mentors.
Bloomberg receives Basta's inaugural First Champion Award.
The celebration brought together longstanding corporate partners, including Bloomberg and BNY, alongside higher education leaders SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, underscoring the importance of strengthening pathways between education and employment.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. with guest and Sheila Sarem
Hosted by NBC News Daily anchor Vicky Nguyen, the evening featured a special performance by musicians Will Butler and Sarah Neufeld, formerly of Arcade Fire.
About Basta
Basta is a national tech nonprofit closing the employment gap for first-generation college students. Combining personalized career coaching, employer connections, and AI-powered technology, Basta expands access to the knowledge, networks, and opportunities that launch strong careers. Founded in 2016, Basta has reached more than 85,000 students across 300+ college campuses nationwide.
Watch Basta's anthem video: 10 Years of First-Gen Impact here
Photos: Courtesy of Basta | Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall
Originally distributed via PR Newswire.