Year Up Arizona to Serve More Youth with $750K Grant

Year Up Arizona will expand its operational capacity to provide higher education and professional career opportunities to more low-income, young adults who are not in school or employed, thanks to a $750,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The program provides a free, one-year job training curriculum for those 18 to 24 years old.
“As one of the fastest growing job markets in the nation, Arizona needs a qualified workforce to fill these positions, and Year Up Arizona is helping local youth prepare for those opportunities,” said entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons. “With the right education and skills, these students will enjoy the benefits of being part of helping Arizona grow.”
The grant will provide students with the education to develop in-demand technical and professional skills and then a six-month internship with a local company where they will earn college credits and a weekly stipend.
“Although our economy is strong, we believe that an important segment of our society is being left behind,” said businesswoman and philanthropist Renee Parsons. “We’re proud to have supported the initial launch of Year Up programming in Arizona and have been impressed with both the impact of the program and the growth over the last three years.”
In 2015, The Foundation helped launch Year Up in Arizona with a $500,000 grant.
“The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is the largest supporter of our cause, bringing much-needed job training and education to local, underserved youth,” said Year Up Arizona executive director Kim Owens. “This funding has a significant impact on our ability to facilitate growth and provide an equal opportunity for these young adults to be successful in their careers and financially independent for the rest of their lives.”
yearup.org