Jake Groshong has dedicated his life to improving the lives of youth in need by utilizing the power of their own cultures and tackling the issue most prevalent in their community. As the CEO of the Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF), he has led the organization through a 5-year period of over 600% growth - now uniquely impacting millions of lives each year in more than 70 locations across 25 countries. In his role leading PFCF, Jake builds and nurtures partnerships between the 501(c)3 organization and iconic artists, governments, brands, and supporters worldwide. Designed to help those kids most in need across the globe to rise up through their own music and culture and solve the most pressing issues their community is facing, PFCF has hundreds of locally hired teachers and administrators. Using music as our universal language, Jake has created partnerships in the last year alone to open new schools in areas like the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, multiple locations in Ukraine, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Jake additionally developed the Impact Awards, honoring major artists using their platform for philanthropy and good, held every Spring in Miami. Previous recipients include Pharrell Williams, Andrea Bocelli, Diplo, Maluma, Paula Abdul, Luis Fonsi, and others. He has also built relationships with dozens of major artists who serve as global ambassadors to PFCF, and has opened programs alongside Shakira in Colombia, DJ Khaled in Miami, Ellie Goulding in Jordan, and many others. A recipient of numerous humanitarian awards, Jake regularly speaks at conferences around the world on the power of music and culture, operating nonprofits as businesses, and private/NGO partnerships. While many organizations and individuals believe they have the solution to the problems communities in need are facing around the globe, Jake’s belief is that the answer always lies within asking and listening to the communities themselves.