Help Teens Escape Poverty & Become Professionals

Thank you for your support this past summer!

Thanks to your donation, Career Club teens participated in many activities this past summer that helped them discover their talents, explore careers, and gain skills that they need to succeed.

Starting in June, the Summer Career Club teens went on summer site visits to businesses located in the Portland Metro Area, participated in skills building activities, engaged in informational interviews, and met one-on-one with caring adult advisors; all which helped them develop their skills and plan for their futures. Thank you for helping provide this opportunity for them!

You can see photos of the visits to Nike, Intel, Bob's Red Mill, and more on our Facebook page or hear what 3 teens had to say about their site visit to Nike on Youtube.

As we head into fall, it becomes even more important for teens to have access to the support, career advice, and skills training that they receive through Career Club. With so many teens in danger of dropping out, connecting them to real life careers, and showing them how they will use their education in the workplace, is vital to ensuring they remain in school and achieve their career and college goals.

You can continue to help provide this connection by donating now! It costs $500 for a teen to participate in the year-round Career Club, and with your donation, you help keep it free for the teens we serve. Thank you!

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, six teens will get a scholarship to attend Step It Up, Inc.'s fall Career Club!

What Career Club can do for a teen is well stated by Ruby,

"Hello Step It Up, I just wanted to thank you all for your time and dedication in the after school program. Due to your teachings I felt very prepared for my interview with Comcast Spotlight and would like to let you know that I was selected for the internship. Thanks again, I couldn't have done it without you guys"- Ruby. (Posted on the Step It Up, Inc. facebook page June 6, 2011 at http://www.facebook.com/stepitupinc)

How can more teens have this rewarding experience? By attending Career Club!

Did you know that every high school graduate adds over $400,000 to the economy in their lifetime? And according to the College Board, the average college graduate earns 62 percent more than the average high school graduate, while the average high school graduate earns 43 percent more than the average non-graduate. This increased earning power improves the economy for all of us!

How does Step It Up, Inc.'s Career Club to improve our economy? Through collaboration with the private, public, and social sectors, SIU provides teens and young adults, ages 13-24, with the skills and support they need to become productive fulfilled adults with meaningful careers. For many of our youth, participation in our programs helps them break out of the cycle of poverty to become professionals in their chosen field. Their outcomes are amazing:

         100% graduate from high school

         100% are succeeding in college

         35% are hired by corporate partners

Links:

• Step It Up, Inc. (SIU) website