During welfare reform in 1997, Matt founded StreetWise Partners, a mentoring and training organization in New York City, to help individuals who were transitioning off the welfare rolls to jobs in the workforce. So far, Matt has made the lives of over 300 clients brighter -- and he has helped to employ a large number of these individuals, putting them on the road to self sufficiency.

He grew the organization from an idea in a small apartment to an organization with 10 Board members, 15 advisors, 250 volunteers, and 1 paid staff person. Matt spends 80 hours a week in his high-stress job in financial consulting and still makes time during the week to run committee meetings, spread the word about the organization and inspire people. He possesses something rare - the ability to succeed in business while effecting real social change.

In the course of the past five years Matt has been intimately involved in helping to train over 300 clients and engage over 600 volunteers. He has engaged corporations at the highest levels to participate in the organization. In 1999, he took the program national by expanding to San Francisco. Matt recently took the next step in the organization by hiring a full time manager to ensure that his work is sustainable and grows.

Matt in short is a force of nature. He is only 29 years old -- a young leader with energy and passion. He has continually been able to outdo himself by his sheer strength of character and perservence. To have one person accomplish all this is amazing and Matt deserves the Volvo for Life Award.

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