DTE Energy Foundation to Partner with City Connect Detroit to Provide 500 Summer Jobs for Youths

DETROIT, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The DTE Energy Foundation today announced plans to expand its support of a youth summer employment initiative by funding up to 500 summer jobs in Detroit and other vulnerable communities.  

The foundation's $750,000 commitment includes a $500,000 grant to the Grow Detroit's Young Talent program, which is the largest private donation toward a fundraising goal of $2 million. The Grow Detroit's Young Talent program is a privately funded initiative run by City Connect Detroit.  The additional $250,000 will be used to enhance Detroit's program and expand to other communities across the state.

The grant was announced at the "Breakfast of Champions" campaign kickoff which brought together a wide range of supporters from Detroit's business, civic and philanthropic communities including the Skillman Foundation and the city of Detroit. 

"These summer jobs will help hundreds of young people learn what it takes to be a good employee and to earn some money that will benefit them and their families," said Fred Shell, vice president of DTE Energy's Corporate and Government Affairs group and president of the DTE Energy Foundation.  "But ultimately, when they are young adults and ready to enter the workforce full time, employers and the broader community will benefit from a more capable and successful work force."

Shell added that jobs also help to deter crime by keeping young people productive and focused during the idle summer months.  "Our investment in summer jobs reflects a broader support of youth development initiatives in the communities that we serve," he said.            

The foundation will work with about 50 community partners to place teens and young adults in jobs at their agencies.  In 2011, the foundation provided a $500,000 grant to fund nearly 350 jobs in the Grow Detroit's Young Talent program.     

The summer jobs program begins in July and runs for six weeks.  To donate funds to support the Grow Detroit's Young Talent program, contact City Connect Detroit at 313.967.5887 or visit http://www.growdetroitsyoungtalent.org.   

The DTE Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its principal operating subsidiaries, Detroit Edison and MichCon.  http://www.dteenergy.com/foundation.

SOURCE DTE Energy