ADP and Alan and Jennifer Fournier Recognized for Commitment to Educational Opportunities in New Jersey

New Jersey SEEDS announced today that ADP® and Alan and Jennifer Fournier will be honored at SEEDS’ 3rd Annual Leading Change Benefit. SEEDS is a nonprofit organization that changes the lives of children from low-income families through education. It established the Leading Change Award to recognize those whose initiative and commitment have enhanced the educational opportunities of young people throughout the communities New Jersey SEEDS serves.

“We’re delighted to present honors to ADP and the Fourniers at this year’s Leading Change Benefit,” says SEEDS President Ronni Denes. “If you look at their work broadly, you see a continuum of access, encouragement and opportunity that starts when students enter school and continues through professional development in the workplace. We are proud and grateful that our remarkable students are among the exceptional young people whose education they support.”

ADP will be honored with the Leading Change Award for the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive workforce that values each individual and enables them to reach their full potential, which is the ultimate step in establishing the education to career trajectory that SEEDS builds for its students. ADP has supported SEEDS since 1995, helping to transform the grassroots organization into a nationally recognized leader in educational access. Through the tenure of four company CEOs and with the commitment of many employee donors and volunteers, ADP has been a resolute force for change in New Jersey education.

Accepting the award on behalf of ADP will be Carlos Rodriguez, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rodriguez has been with ADP since 1999, most recently as President and Chief Operating Officer since May 2011, and previously as President of National Account Services and Employer Services International. He joined ADP through its acquisition of Vincam, where he served initially as CFO for a short period before becoming President of ADP TotalSource. He then spent several years as President of ADP’s Small Business Services (SBS). Mr. Rodriguez holds Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Harvard University. He serves on the Boards of ADP, Hubbell Inc. and A-T Children’s Project. He is a member of the Business Roundtable and the Economic Club of New York.

“ADP’s values are rooted in the belief that education and hard work are the keys to unlocking opportunity for all individuals,” says Carlos Rodriguez. “We are proud to support NJ SEEDS’ commitment to providing promising students opportunities to achieve their potential.”

New Jersey SEEDS will also present Alan and Jennifer Fournier with the Leading Change Award for their work to enhance the education of students in New Jersey. Through the Fournier Family Foundation, the Fourniers have had a substantial impact in improving educational access by developing and supporting charter schools, creating need based scholarships, and promoting educational reform.

Alan P. Fournier is the Managing Member and founder of Pennant Capital Management, L.L.C., based in Summit, which he formed in 2001. From 1996 through 2000, Mr. Fournier was the partner responsible for global equity investments at Appaloosa Management L.P.  He began his investment career at Sanford C. Bernstein in 1988, and became a partner there in 1990. Mr. Fournier holds a B.S. in Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he graduated with honors in 1983. He serves on the KIPP New Jersey Board of Governors. KIPP operates a cluster of five schools in Newark that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in college in order to change the world. Mr. Fournier formerly served as Trustee and Treasurer of Far Hills Country Day School, where he also chaired the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee.

Jennifer L. Fournier is a busy mother of four and an active volunteer within the community. She is a member of the State Council for the Humane Society of the United States and is actively involved at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center. Mrs. Fournier is also a volunteer for NJ SEEDS and a member of the Be The Change Committee for TEAM (KIPP) Charter Schools. She holds a B.A. in Marketing and Communications from the University of Florida.

“New Jersey SEEDS’ mission to improve educational opportunity is also one of the key focus areas of our Foundation,” say Alan and Jennifer Fournier. “We are proud to support SEEDS in its work to create a world in which young people’s initiative, creativity and intellect can flourish without regard to socioeconomic status.”

New Jersey SEEDS’ 3rd Annual Leading Change Benefit will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at The Park Savoy in Florham Park, NJ. The evening – featuring a strolling dinner, seated dessert and auction – will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased online. For questions or information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sarah Cassidy at scassidy@njseeds.org or at 862.227.9148.

About New Jersey SEEDS
Since its inception more than 20 years ago, New Jersey SEEDS has provided educational access for highly motivated, low-income students and created a viable path for them to achieve their full potential. To date, nearly 2,000 scholars have benefited from its programs. For more information, visit www.njseeds.org.