FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 22, 2015

YOUTHWORKS SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM ACCEPTING ONLINE CHARITABLE DONATIONS THROUGH BALTIMORE CITY FOUNDATION

Tax-deductible donations are needed to pay youth wages

Baltimore, Maryland (April 22, 2015) – YouthWorks, Baltimore City’s summer jobs program, is seeking online contributions to maximize the number of positions it can offer to young adults ages 14-21 who completed the registration process for 2015. The Baltimore City Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Baltimore City, is accepting online donations to support the nationally recognized program operated by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development.

“With more young people interested in participating in our YouthWorks summer jobs program each year, it’s vital that we expand opportunities for them to gain the skills and experiences they need for lifelong success,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “We rely on public, private and philanthropic support to offer as many summer jobs as possible. I am encouraging those who recognize the value of summer employment for teens and young adults to go online and make a donation today through the Baltimore City Foundation. No amount is too large or too small.”

Each summer through YouthWorks, thousands of Baltimore City residents are placed in paid summer jobs with public and private sector employers throughout Baltimore where they gain real-world work experience. Donations to the Baltimore City Foundation to support YouthWorks are tax deductible and help provide opportunities for young people to gain experience, knowledge and skills that will help them transition into responsible adulthood. The cost for each five-week, 25-hour-per-week 2015 YouthWorks position is $1,500. Mayor Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore City Council have committed $1.7 million in funding to YouthWorks this year, creating summer jobs for more than 1,100 young people. In addition, the Maryland State Department of Human Resources/Baltimore City Department of Social Services will provide their annual $1 million grant to fund YouthWorks jobs for teens who live in foster care, receive Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) and/or live in homes that receive TCA.

YouthWorks also relies upon contributions to the Baltimore City Foundation from private foundations and businesses that understand the importance of teen employment to the future of our community. Bank of America Charitable Foundation recently awarded a $25,000 grant to fund 17 YouthWorks summer jobs in 2015.

“Despite recent economic growth, teens consistently have the highest unemployment rates of any group that the Department of Labor tracks,” said Bank of America’s Maryland and Baltimore market president Dave Millman. “For this reason, it's imperative that companies in Baltimore support programs that hire and train the youth in our community. Providing financial education, along with a paycheck, is an important strategy to helping young people succeed.”

This summer, YouthWorks participants will work in a wide variety of industries, including health care and social assistance, hospitality/tourism, finance, construction, the arts, and environmental/green jobs. Many YouthWorks assignments in high-growth industries are offered to older youth who are matched to jobs that reflect their career interests. Approximately half of the YouthWorks participants are 14 or 15 years old and employed for the first time. Many are gaining business and office skills, while others are helping keep Baltimore's parks, playgrounds and open spaces clean. They are beautifying city neighborhoods by participating in community recycling activities and graffiti removal, and supporting the operations of community libraries, recreation centers, summer camps and senior centers. YouthWorks 2015 will run June 29 through July 31.

To make a tax-deductible donation to support YouthWorks summer jobs, please visit http://baltimorecityfoundation.org/Donate.html. 

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The Baltimore City Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Baltimore City. The Foundation enables Baltimore City government to raise philanthropic resources that promote many of its health and human services priorities. Additionally, the Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the city that support youth and underprivileged Baltimore City residents. In conducting activities for the support of benefit of the City, and in receiving charitable contributions from private sources, the Foundation also promotes public/private collaboration for the benefit of the City and its residents.

Mayor’s Office of Employment Development 417 East Fayette Street Suite 468 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 410-396-3009 www.oedworks.com