Hope for Youth, Inc. and Sage Announce Three-Year Partnership to Advance Opportunities for Women and Girls in Tech 

ATLANTA (March 4, 2025) – Hope for Youth, Inc. (HYPE) is proud to announce a three-year partnership with  Sage, a leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) aiming to foster digital inclusion and support the next generation of tech talent. Delivered through the company’s social-impact arm, Sage Foundation will provide funding and strategic support for three of HYPE’s flagship programs: The HYPE Project, The HYPE International Experience, and The HYPE About Tech Conference from 2025 – 2027. 

In the first year of the partnership, the investment will support the following HYPE initiatives: 

• 75 scholars participate in the HYPE Project After-School Program, engaging girls in grades 6-12 in an interactive Computer Science (CS) curriculum.  

• 10 scholars participate in the HYPE International Experience, a fully funded 1-week trip abroad, to teach coding workshops to children in developing countries.  

• 350 girls participate in the inaugural HYPE Tech Conference for Girls in March 2025. Sage as the presenting sponsor. 
   

This partnership was formally announced during the opening reception of the inaugural HYPE About Tech Conference on March 3, where Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was in attendance and expressed his support for the investment. During the event, Dickens introduced Sage executive Helen Devanny to the stage to make the official announcement. Timed strategically for the start of Women’s History Month, the conference serves as a launchpad for the collaboration, highlighting the shared commitment of both organizations to fostering opportunity and innovation for the next generation in the tech industry.  

“The technology industry has long struggled with a ‘leaky pipeline’ that results in significant underrepresentation of women of color in tech careers,” said Kristina Newton, Executive Director of HYPE. “At HYPE, we are working to not only recruit more young women into tech fields but also to create a supportive community that nurtures their skills and development throughout the earliest stages of their careers. Partnerships like this one with Sage are crucial in ensuring that we can continue this work and make a meaningful, lasting impact.” 

Sage, a global technology firm, has a long-standing commitment to investing in local communities, providing career opportunities, and supporting initiatives that foster business growth and innovation. Through Sage Foundation, the company has globally contributed more than 140,000 hours of volunteer time and raised more than $500,000 for community causes. Additionally, Sage Foundation has helped upskill nearly 19,000 individuals in tech and digital skills, including young girls and teens, as part of its mission to create a more inclusive technology sector. 

“Sage is committed to making a lasting impact in Atlanta and beyond by investing in the next generation of business and technology leaders,” said Helen Devanny, Vice President of Sage Foundation. “We believe that by fostering opportunities for underrepresented communities and supporting initiatives that bridge the digital skills gap, we can help shape a more innovative future. Our partnership with HYPE reflects our dedication to empowering the next wave of diverse talent and deepening our roots in Atlanta as a hub for technology and business growth.” 

For more information about the HYPE and Sage partnership, or to read recaps of the HYPE About Tech Conference, visit www.gethype.org.  

About HYPE (Hope for Youth Inc.) 

HYPE (Hope for Youth, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the diversity gap in technology by providing girls of color with the skills, mentorship, and opportunities needed to thrive in technology fields. Through innovative programs and events, HYPE empowers young minds to see technology as a pathway to success.  

Learn more at www.gethype.org. 

About Sage Foundation 

Sage Foundation has been knocking down barriers in our communities since 2015. By mobilizing our colleagues, partners, and customers through impactful programs, Sage Foundation is helping underrepresented entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while equipping the entrepreneurs of tomorrow with the skills they need to succeed. 

About Sage 

Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of small- and mid-sized businesses served by us, our partners, and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR, and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitizing business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology, and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality, and the climate crisis.