SkillsUSA Rhode Island Selected by Local Associate to Receive Staples Foundation Grant
Warwick, RI—SkillsUSA RI has been awarded $3,500 by Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc., through a program called 2 Million & Change that allows Staples associates around the globe to direct more than $2 million in donations each year.
“SkillsUSA RI’s mission is to help members become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. Support from the Staples Foundation will aid in the expansion of our middle school programming.
This support will provide more students throughout the state with SkillsUSA career exploration, personal development, and career readiness curriculum. We are honored to work with a Foundation that supports our goals for America’s future workforce,” Joshua Klemp, Executive Director, SkillsUSA RI.
Created in 2012, the 2 Million & Change program is a philanthropic initiative which allows Staples associates around the world to direct funding to non-profit organizations focused on academic education or job skills. The program encourages local community engagement by awarding larger grants to organizations where associates are highly engaged in volunteering or fundraising – up to $25,000 per organization.
In 2015, Staples awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 875 local organizations in support of education and job skills programs, including job readiness for homeless individuals, career exploration for high school students, academic scholarships, mentoring and more.
“For 30 years, Staples associates have been making a difference in their communities around the world,” said John Burke, chief culture officer, Staples, Inc., "We’re thrilled that the 2 Million & Change program lets our associate make an even greater impact on the organizations they are passionate about.”
SkillsUSA is an applied method of instruction for preparing America’s high performance workers in public career and technical programs. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It emphasizes total quality at work—high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and pride in the dignity of work.
About Staples Community and Giving
Staples contributes to educational and job-related community efforts with a primary focus on disadvantaged youth, from literacy and mentoring to career skills development, through in-kind and monetary donations and grants from Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc. Through its community and giving efforts, Staples has helped thousands of organizations in 26 countries. For more information, visit www.staples.com/community