Symantec, TeenForce and Silicon Valley Children’s Fund Team Up To Offer STEM and Work Readiness Training To Santa Clara Foster Youth

  October 21, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Symantec, one of Silicon Valley’s leading technology companies, will provide funding to launch a new Foster Youth STEM and Work Readiness Training program sponsored by TeenForce and Silicon Valley Children’s Fund.   The program will offer STEM training to 100% of high school foster youth in Santa Clara County. Upon completing the training, the youth will receive paid internships with some of the top technology companies in Silicon Valley.   “This new initiative is a breakthrough program and one of the first in Santa Clara County to place foster youth in STEM-related, career-oriented jobs,” said John Hogan, CEO of TeenForce. “TeenForce has employed over 400 youth in the past four years, with half being current or former foster youth. Sadly, our experience is that foster youth are receiving primarily retail and labor positions, while the non-foster youth are frequently placed in technology, health care and other career oriented jobs. This program is designed specifically to change this by delivering the necessary training to 9th and 10th grade foster youth so that they are ensured of a paid STEM internship during high school.”   “Symantec is proud to support the launch of this ambitious program,” said Jaime Barclay, manager for Corporate Responsibility at Symantec. “There will be thousands of jobs available in cyber-security and other STEM fields in the coming years, and these youth deserve the opportunity to compete for these jobs. This program will level the playing field, ensuring that foster youth are exposed to the same opportunities as non-foster youth in this arena.”   “The Children’s Fund has a strong record of increasing foster youth high school graduation rates and college completion,” said Elise Cutini, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Children’s Fund. “This program will deliver STEM skills and provide real work experience. This is critical, as we know that 25% of foster youth have no earnings between the ages of 18 and 20. The only foster youth that are consistently employed by the age of 24 are those who gain work experience while still in high school. To most foster youth in our community, the Silicon Valley corporate world might as well be in another country. This program helps demystify what lies behind that corporate wall.”   The project is the result of a Commitment to Action made by TeenForce at the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative America meeting. The Silicon Valley Children’s Fund and Symantec Corporation are now supporting partners on the commitment. Foundations and Corporations interested in supporting the commitment with funding and/or internship opportunities are encouraged to contact John Hogan at JohnHogan@teenforce.org or Elise Cutini at Elise.Cutini@svcf.org.   About TeenForce Based in San Jose, TeenForce is a social enterprise that helps disadvantaged youth gain career employment by the age of 24. We have a particular emphasis on working with current and former foster youth. Our approach is patterned after the for-profit staffing industry, which helps develop relationships with employers and drives revenue to make us self-sustaining. TeenForce is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information about TeenForce, or to provide a work opportunity for local youth, please contact John Hogan at 408.827.3078 or johnhogan@teenforce.org   About Silicon Valley Children’s Fund Silicon Valley Children’s Fund invests in high impact programs that help the foster youth of Santa Clara County become successful and self-sustaining adults. SVCF’s primary focus is educational outcomes for youth and SVCF scholars graduate high school and complete college at much higher rates than foster youth in other communities. SVCF began working together in 2011 to pilot and implement foster youth employment programs. SVCF is a major funding supporter of TeenForce.   About CGI America The Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America), a program of the Clinton Global Initiative, addresses economic recovery in the United States. Established in June 2011 by President Bill Clinton, CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting, CGI America participants have made over 300 commitments. To learn more, visit cgiamerica.org. Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders year-round and at its Annual Meeting to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI also convenes CGI University, which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their communities and around the world. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 3,100 Commitments to Action, which are already improving the lives of more than 430 million people in over 180 countries. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

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Contact:
John Hogan, CEO 408-827-3078 x1 johnhogan@teenforce.org