Summer Search and SAP Concur Supporting Students in Achieving Their Dreams

Jenn McColly was formerly Vice President of Employee Experience at SAP Concur

At SAP Concur, we support accessibility to quality education for youth in underserved communities.  As such, we partner with organizations working to remove barriers and inequities that exist preventing youth from reaching their full potential. Our National Community Impact Partner, Summer Search, does just that by helping students realize their potential and achieve academic success, empowering them to bring their experience back to their families and community, inspiring future generations.

Yesterday Summer Search hosted their Seattle Leadership Luncheon and SAP Concur was proud to be the Summit Sponsor for the second year in a row, with a donation of $50,000. This sponsorship helps enable Summer Search Seattle to expand their reach, providing even more opportunities to students in the South King County area.

Summer Search is not only one of our community impact partners, but I personally connect with Summer Search. Having grown up in South Seattle, a community in which Summer Search is directly impacting, I witnessed the inequities that exist. And, like most Summer Searchers, I am a first-generation college graduate. Now, as a parent of two middle school aged boys, I recognize the abundance of opportunities afforded to them and am aware that opportunity is not equitable within their peer group across the United States. Summer Search is empowering youth around the U.S.They are inspiring and transforming people’s lives.

We had over 50 employees in attendance, and several SAP Concur employees attended a pre-luncheon networking session providing Summer Searchers an opportunity to practice greeting luncheon guests and equipping them with skills to learn the art of networking.  During this session, I had the opportunity to hear from a few students, sharing what Summer Search means to them. They shared that Summer Search has helped build their confidence and helped them “see their potential.” Students spoke about how Summer Search has provided a supportive community where they are surrounded by others facing adversity. During the luncheon, we heard from students, alumni and parents. By sharing their stories, we learned more about the profound impact Summer Search is having on students and their families, and we were able to celebrate their successes. Summer Search is helping students find their truth through experiences and mentorship.

I was truly inspired by the love and gratitude expressed throughout the luncheon. In that spirit, I want to express my gratitude and thank SAP Concur and SAP Intelligent Spend Group President Mike Eberhard, and every single one of our employees for showing up with open hearts to support this incredible organization. Those employees included Jude Capili, a graduate of Seattle’s Ingraham High School and Western Washington University. Jude is a previous SAP Concur intern and today serves as one of SAP Concur’s finest Security and Privacy Analysts. Jude remarked last week to Mike Eberhard that he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Summer Search, not just talking about being at SAP Concur but where he is in life overall. As Mike told the audience yesterday, “Jude is a great role model for our future Summer Search interns and we plan to grow the number of Summer Searchers within our internship program in the years to come.”

Though I am grateful to all of you, I am most grateful to the students, alumni, and parents for sharing their story. They are what yesterday’s luncheon was all about.  As the students were told during the pre-luncheon networking session, they were the most important people in the room. 

At SAP we believe in helping the world run better and improving people’s lives. Our partnership and dedicated work with organizations like Summer Search is evidence of this belief. I encourage you to learn more about Summer Search.