Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Program recently granted $35,000 to Women’s Empowerment for its job-readiness programs for women who are homeless.
“The Walmart Foundation played an important role in helping 82 percent of our graduates last year overcome homelessness and reenter the world of work,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “We are excited to once again partner with Walmart to help us provide job-readiness training to 400 women in the Sacramento area this year so they can break the cycle of homelessness for themselves and their children.”
Women’s Empowerment’s initial eight-week program for women who are homeless addresses their basic needs such as health and housing while preparing them to become work-ready. The job-readiness component is predominantly taught by volunteers from the community and includes computer literacy training, resume writing, communication skills, mock interviews, dressing for success and more. They also meet with an onsite employment specialist to search for jobs. Once women graduate from Women’s Empowerment, they can join the advanced job-readiness program that includes internships, paid job training programs, certifications and more.
Recently featured on NBC’s TODAY Show, Women’s Empowerment offers the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women who are homeless and their children. The 2014 Organization of the Year has graduated 1,297 homeless women and their 2,700 children. Last year, 93 percent of graduates found homes and 82 percent found jobs or enrolled in school or training. The program combines self-esteem courses, job training, health classes and support services to help homeless women across diverse ages, races and cultures. Women’s Empowerment is funded solely through private donations from the community. To donate online: www.womens-empowerment.org.
The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the United States. Last year in California, the Walmart Foundation and stores throughout the state awarded more than $26 million in cash and in-kind contributions to community groups that are positioned to address the needs of California communities and make a significant social impact within Walmart’s core areas of giving: Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. For more information, visit www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.