Prudential kicks off Emerging Visionaries program

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Prudential Financial Inc. began accepting applications on Sept. 9 for the company’s Emerging Visionaries program, which recognizes young people who bring new perspectives and innovative solutions to important societal and financial challenges in their communities.

The program is the successor to Pru’s Spirit of Community Awards, which the company said was the largest youth recognition effort base on voluntary service in the U.S. More than 150,000 young people from across the country were honored during the awards’ quarter century history.

“To fulfill our purpose of making lives better by solving the financial challenges of our changing world, we take a fully inclusive approach, because we believe the best solutions can come from anywhere,” Prudential Chairman and CEO Charlie Lowrey said in a statement. “During more than 26 years of celebrating young people around the country, we’ve been inspired by their creative and selfless work. With the Emerging Visionaries program, we’re excited to celebrate and support remarkable young leaders who are driving progress, and to create a community of change.”

According to the company, 20 students will be recognized for their solutions to social issues, and five for their solutions to financial barriers.  Those winners will be announced in April 2022 and each will recieve $5,000 plus an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark for a recognition event. During this event, the five honorees in the financial solutions category will pitch their ideas to Prudential executives and one grand prize winner will receive $15,000.  solutions to financial barriers.

The application process will run through Nov. 4. The program is open to students aged 14-18 in the U.S. Prudential will continue to operate Spirit of Community in countries where the company has a significant presence including Brazil, China, India and Japan, and will transition to the new operating model in subsequent program cycles.