National Bank of Canada Initiative Helps Homeless Kids
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) October 29, 2013 -- National Bank of Canada has awarded $25,000 to Covenant House’s Vocational Services team to provide a comprehensive and integrated range of assistance, including job search skills, resume preparation and interview skills, workplace etiquette and career counseling. The program helps about 200 homeless youth annually to break into the job market.
“One of the biggest barriers preventing our youth from leaving the street is unemployment,” says Bruce Rivers, executive director of Canada’s largest homeless youth agency. “With National Bank’s support, we can offer more young people the tools they need to help them find work and become independent.”
Last year, 156 at-risk and homeless youth got jobs, entered job training or went back to school through Covenant House’s Vocational Services program
Covenant House was one of 104 agencies out of 1,600 applications, and the top recipient in Ontario, selected to benefit from the recent $1-million National Bank funding announcement. Each year, National Bank supports hundreds of Canadian organizations through its donations and sponsorships program. At the heart of its program is their involvement with youth where a large proportion of their contributions are concentrated. National Bank recognizes that young people represent our dreams and hopes for the future and believes it is up to all of us to help the next generation develop to its fullest potential.
As Canada’s largest homeless youth agency, Covenant House changes lives by providing the widest range of services and support under one roof. More than a place to stay, Covenant House provides 24/7 crisis shelter and a longer-term residential program along with comprehensive services, including education, counseling, health care, employment assistance and job training. The agency serves about 3,000 youth annually. To do all this, the agency relies on donors for 80 percent of its $20-million annual operating budget.
Rose Cino, Covenant House Toronto, http://www.covenanthousetoronto.ca, +1 (416) 204-7081, [email protected]
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