LaunchPad – The Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s first major grant, as part of its $50 million entrepreneurship initiative, was to establish “Blackstone LaunchPad” at two Detroit-area colleges.  Based on the successful model created at the University of Miami, Blackstone LaunchPad provides a university-wide program that makes entrepreneurship a viable career path. Concrete tools and guidance by experienced venture coaches helps aspiring entrepreneurs transform untested ideas into vital businesses that lead to economic revitalization.

Encouraged by the initial success and potential impact of LaunchPad in creating the next generation of entrepreneurs, the Foundation is committed to making LaunchPad a national model for fostering entrepreneurship through higher education. Toward that end, the Foundation is committing to a significant scaling up of Blackstone LaunchPads through a five-year, five region expansion to other distressed regions in the U.S.

NAACP – Blackstone donated Class A office space to the NAACP rent-free for four years. The NAACP had been housed in temporary space since losing their offices in the World Trade Center tragedy. The Blackstone Charitable Foundation was also the single largest contributor to the NAACP’s centennial fund.

PENCIL - Eagle Academy – The Blackstone Group and The Blackstone Charitable Foundation have a partnership, through PENCIL, with the Eagle Academy in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Eagle is a school committed to educating young men from low-income neighborhoods to be “globally conscious and globally competitive”.

Beyond financial support, Blackstone employees have dedicated their time and talents to the Eagle Academy. Employees from various units are engaged in mentoring, teaching Saturday classes, upgrading technology, and assisting school staff with discounted purchasing programs. In addition, our managers are giving the principal and his senior staff professional development support including budgeting and management training.