Goodwill NYNJ has received a $100,000 grant from the Pinkerton Foundation to upskill 40 individuals per year who have gained security jobs through our Career Services Youth Pathways program (YouthPathways) and are looking to advance their careers. Thanks to this grant, Goodwill NYNJ will provide on-site training and exam preparation so they can obtain advanced certifications and higher wages. This new program launched on Nov. 1, 2020.
Goodwill NYNJ will screen and select candidates for upskilling according to industry best practices, including employer input, candidates’ past job performance, and candidates’ aptitude for and commitment to advancement. Goodwill NYNJ will also offer job retention services such as metro cards, clothing stipends, and other individualized supports to ensure all youth have the resources needed to successfully maintain employment. The goal is to support 32 people as they apply for job promotions as a result of obtaining the new credentials.
Goodwill NYNJ launched the YouthPathways program in 2017 to provide comprehensive employment services and connect 18-24-year-old New Yorkers to job opportunities. In order to participate in YouthPathways, job-seekers must get referrals from the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA).
The Pinkerton Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization established in 1966 by Robert Allan Pinkerton, the Chairman and CEO of Pinkerton’s, Inc., then the nation’s oldest and largest security company. The foundation, which retains no ties to the firm, supports community-based programs for children, youth and families in economically disadvantaged areas in New York City. Although we consider a wide range of youth development initiatives, Pinkerton favors direct-service programs that have one overriding goal: to help young people reach their full potential. With that in mind, the foundation looks for groups with capable leadership, high expectations, well-defined goals and active, engaged participants. Most of the programs the foundation supports take place in the after-school, weekend or summer hours and focus on providing opportunities for academic development, career readiness and cultural enrichment. Pinkerton also supports a number of programs that offer a way forward for young people after an encounter with the criminal justice system or years in foster care.