July 28, 2009

GOODWILL GRADUATES FIRST SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
ARRA STIMULAS DOLLARS AT WORK

(Greenville SC) Fourteen Greenville youth graduated from the first Food Service Summer Youth Employment Program hosted by Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC on Friday, July 17, 2009.  Youth involved in this program received paid training and work experience in local area restaurants including K&W Cafeteria, Sonic and Long John Silver’s.  Of the 14 graduates, seven were offered jobs from the restaurants; one is continuing her education with the Greenville Literacy Association; one is registered for classes at Greenville Technical College; and three are going back to high school. 

Goodwill’s second group of summer youth will graduate from the Computer De-Manufacturing Summer Youth Program on Friday, July 31, 2009, at 4:00pm at Goodwill Industries at 115 Haywood Road in Greenville.  Fifteen students have spent the last six weeks learning how to assemble and disassemble computers, as well as to recycle components, metals and plastics.  The computer de-manufacturing process will keep thousands of pounds of old computers out of our landfills.   

The funds for Goodwill’s Summer Youth Program are provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) by the Greenville County Workforce Investment Board and are designated to provide training and education for 75 young adults ages 18 to 24.  These paid training programs will prepare youth for careers in either Food Service or Computer De-Manufacturing, and Goodwill will work to place them into meaningful full-time employment after they complete the program.  

Food Service and Computer De-Manufacturing have been identified as high-growth, high-demand career paths which have the potential to help graduates of the Goodwill program achieve employment stability and financial independence. Youth who participate in the Goodwill Summer Youth Employment program will create a foundation on which to build a career.

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina helps people with disabilities and disadvantages become self-sufficient citizens through job training and job placement.  Last year, Goodwill assisted 17,894 people in their quest for independence and created a potential economic impact of over $47 million through the wages of the 2,839 people placed into employment.

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