McCormick Foundation Grants Nearly $1 Million for Citywide Workforce Development Programs Through Chicago Tribune Charities
CHICAGO, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The McCormick Foundation has announced $800,000 in funding through Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation fund, that will help 24 local agencies provide a broad range of employment and training services to help individuals succeed in the workplace. Through partnerships with media outlets, such as the Chicago Tribune, the McCormick Foundation continues Robert R. McCormick's legacy of service by encouraging local giving, inspiring civic involvement and addressing human needs.
"These economic times are especially hard on individuals without the skills to successfully compete for a job," said David D. Hiller, president and CEO of the McCormick Foundation.
"Through the generosity of many Chicagoans, a lot of people will now have access to the training they need to get and keep a job."
The 2010 workforce development grants will be awarded to agencies providing high-quality services in the following program areas:
- Advocacy / Technical Assistance: $255,000 to 6 agencies providing research on best practices, training direct service providers, promoting change in the workforce delivery system or advocating for increased public funding for programs.
- Bridge Programs: $150,000 to 5 agencies providing training programs for adults who lack the basic skills to enter and succeed in post-secondary education programs. Bridge programs create career-path employment opportunities that combine education and training for adults who have reading and math skills below the 9th grade level.
- Job Training and Economic Development (JTED): $235,000 to 9 agencies providing training programs based in community organizations that are developed in partnership with local businesses or industries. JTED programs serve low-income job seekers and help participants build skill related to growth industries that pay a living wage and provide opportunity for advancement. JTED programs include skill training that leads to a certificate or license.
- Transitional Jobs Programs: $160,000 to 4 agencies providing training programs that offer real work experience, supportive services and earned income for the chronically unemployed. Program participants have significant barriers to employment, including criminal records, histories of homelessness, limited English proficiency, long-term welfare dependence and education below the 6th grade level.
Since 1987, Chicago Tribune Charities has committed more than $9.4 million to support community-based vocational and employment programs for Chicagoans in poverty. To donate today to Chicago Tribune Charities, go to www.mccormickfoundation.org/NetCommunity/CTC/donate. For more information about Chicago Tribune Charities, go to www.mccormickfoundation.org/NetCommunity/CTC.
Below is the complete listing of the 2010 Chicago Tribune Charities workforce development grants. All the organizations are in Chicagoland area:
Advocacy / Technical Assistance |
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1. Center for Labor and Community Research |
$25,000 |
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For the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council, a public/private effort advocating to increase Chicago's high-performance manufacturing jobs for low-income populations. |
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2. Chicago Jobs Council |
$90,000 |
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For general support. |
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3. Chicago Workforce Investment Council |
$25,000 |
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For general support. |
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4. Literacy Works |
$15,000 |
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For the Employ Lit program, which trains workforce development agency staff on how to work with low-literate adults in job readiness programs. |
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5. Safer Foundation |
$25,000 |
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For the Policy and Advocacy program, which addresses administrative and legislative barriers that prevent formerly-incarcerated individuals from attaining employment. |
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6. Women Employed |
$75,000 |
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For general support. |
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Total |
$255,000 |
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Bridge Programs |
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7. Association House of Chicago |
$20,000 |
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For the Vocational Bridge Academy program, providing employment, adult education, and industry sector training to low-income individuals. |
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8. Breaking Ground |
$20,000 |
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For the Green Deconstruction Development program, which provides subsidized employment, job readiness and computer skills classes to formerly-incarcerated individuals in North Lawndale. |
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9. Erie Neighborhood House. |
$20,000 |
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For Pathways to Success, a career pathway bridge program in healthcare and manufacturing, for low- income adults with limited English proficiency and work skills. |
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10. Institute for Latino Progress (Instituto del Progreso Latino) |
$50,000 |
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For Healthy For Carreras en Salud, a career pathways program into the health care industry for low- income clients with limited English proficiency. |
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11. National Able Network, Inc. |
$40,000 |
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For the Able Career Institute, providing remedial education, bridge education, and basic computer literacy to its clients. |
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Total |
$150,000 |
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Job Training and Economic Development |
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12. Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation |
$15,000 |
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For the Oliver's Kitchen program, providing unemployed and under-employed individuals with culinary arts training and job placement services. |
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13. Chinese American Service League, Inc. |
$20,000 |
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For the Chef Training program, which provides kitchen training, employment skills development, ESL tutoring, and job placement assistance to low-income residents with limited work experience and skills. |
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14. Greater West Town Community Development Project |
$50,000 |
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For the Vocational Job Training and Placement program, providing occupational training and job placement services in Woodworking and Shipping/Receiving. |
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15. Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation |
$25,000 |
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For general support. |
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16. Jane Addams Resource Corporation |
$20,000 |
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For the Careers in Manufacturing Program, which provides dislocated workers with technical skills training in metal fabricating. |
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17. National Latino Education Institute |
$35,000 |
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For the Workforce Development Initiatives, providing job training and placement services in health care and customer service. |
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18. OAI, Inc. |
$15,000 |
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For Minority Worker Training-Chicago program, providing hazardous materials/environmental remediation, and basic constructions skills to residents on the west and south sides of Chicago. |
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19. Polish American Association |
$35,000 |
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For the Employment Services and Vocational Training program, providing career counseling, job training, and support services for those interested in the health care industry. |
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20. Upwardly Global |
$20,000 |
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For general support. |
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Total |
$235,000 |
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Transitional Jobs Programs |
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21. Cara Program |
$55,000 |
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For the Traditional Job Training and Placement program, providing homeless and formerly- incarcerated individuals with life skills, job readiness training, and employment opportunities. |
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22. Chicago House and Social Service Agency |
$25,000 |
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For the iFOUR Employment program, which provides job readiness training, paid internships and job placements in the food industry for low-income people impacted by HIV/AIDS. |
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23. Harborquest, Inc. |
$35,000 |
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For the Member Services program, providing job readiness training, subsidized work experience, and unsubsidized job placements for chronically unemployed individuals. |
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24. North Lawndale Employment Network |
$45,000 |
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For the U-Turn Permitted program, which provides an intensive job preparation curriculum, transitional jobs, and placement support to formerly- incarcerated adults. |
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Total |
$160,000 |
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2010 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS GRAND TOTAL |
$800,000 |
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About the McCormick Foundation and Chicago Tribune Charities
The McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening our free, democratic society by investing in our children, communities and country. It was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, who believed that philanthropy and service to others strengthens the civic health of our communities. The Foundation is one of the nation's largest charities, with more than $1 billion in assets.
The McCormick Foundation continues McCormick's legacy by partnering with media outlets, such as the Chicago Tribune, and sports teams across the country, to encourage local giving, inspire civic involvement and address human needs.
Through this unique partnership, Chicago Tribune and the McCormick Foundation raise and distribute funds across Chicagoland through Chicago Tribune Charities. All donations are matched by the McCormick Foundation at 50 cents on the dollar, increasing the impact of the gift. The Foundation and Chicago Tribune pay all campaign and administrative costs, ensuring that 100 percent of all donations, plus the match, is granted to local nonprofit agencies with programs that support disadvantaged people in the community.
To learn more about the McCormick Foundation visit www.McCormickFoundation.org.
SOURCE McCormick Foundation
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