| Thursday, 09 July 2009 | |
Bringing summer employment to East Jacksonville youthFreshMinistries is once again able to bring its Summer Youth Employment program to East Jacksonville.Thanks in part to generous grants from Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation and the Scheidel Foundation, 27 youth from Jacksonville’s Eastside are now employed in paying summer jobs. The youth, ranging in age from 14 to 18, are just beginning their jobs at local businesses, some even helping to paint a large mural on the Eastside. In addition to the jobs, the participants will be meeting at FreshMinistries' East Jacksonville Neighborhood Resource Center once a week for further enrichment. This will include workshops on managing money and opening bank accounts (including a visit by Urban Trust Bank of Jacksonville), tips for successful family interactions, community service and preparation for the fall school semester. Leading up to their employment, the youth had been meeting with Coach Nathaniel Washington for job preparedness workshops. Washington, 83, who works at the Resource Center, has long been firmly committed to the success and growth of East Jacksonville’s youth. “You know I am your friend and I want you to succeed,” Washington said Wednesday evening at an orientation for children employed through the program and their parents. “I don’t care what time of day or night it is; you call me if you have any problems or issues.” The program’s participants will continue to receive mentoring from Washington and other FreshMinistries staff throughout their employment, June 29 to August 14. After the summer employment ends, the Jaguars Foundation has asked FreshMinistries to continue providing enrichment and mentoring, and to also add tutoring for Eastside students during the school year. Blue Cross Blue Shield provided $5,000, the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation provided $18,000 and the Scheidel Foundation provided $13,000. These amounts will cover both operating expenses and wages for the youth. For the Jaguars Foundation, this marks 15 years of grant making totaling more than $12.3 million.           |
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