Stand Together Awards $750,000 Grant to Per Scholas in New Partnership to Close Opportunity Gaps

Part of Stand Together’s $3.5 Million Workforce Development Commitment during National Poverty Awareness Month, will fund Per Scholas employment services

New York, NY (January 17, 2019) – Today, national tech training nonprofit Per Scholas announced that it has received a $750,000 grant from Stand Together, a social change organization dedicated to fighting poverty through community-based solutions. The funding will support the continued expansion of Per Scholas’s skills training and career support services for overlooked communities, along with their efforts to meet employers’ increasing demand for locally-based tech hiring pipelines.

The grant is the latest in a series of funding commitments made by Stand Together as part of their National Poverty Awareness Month initiative. Under the initiative, Stand Together is making weekly investment announcements in support of its non-profit partners, and this week pledged a total of $3.5 million to partner organizations across the United States seeking to address socioeconomic inequities and break down barriers to long-term employment.

Per Scholas has helped the lead way in tackling underemployment and unemployment, by providing free technology skills training and career development services to thousands of individuals. Featuring a hands-on, skills-based IT curriculum taught by experienced professionals, Per Scholas specifically serves low-income individuals interested in pursuing a career in technology but lacking access to traditional career pathways.

Through Per Scholas’ tuition-free tech training programs, over 9,000 job-seekers have received the technology skills and career foundation they need to succeed. Approximately 85% of students graduate in 14 weeks, and an estimated 80% of graduates quickly secure employment upon completing the program.

“A meaningful job is the most direct path out of poverty, but it’s so much more than that. It restores dignity, hope and purpose,” said Evan Feinberg, Executive Director of Stand Together. “There are so many barriers facing the chronically jobless — addiction, mental health issues, criminal records and often a lack of needed skills. Thankfully, there are non-profit social entrepreneurs that help individuals tap into their unique gifts and talents, overcome barriers, and realize their full potential.”

“Per Scholas is incredibly excited to partner with Stand Together, as we work together to create new career pathways for overlooked communities and expand access to economic opportunity”, said Plinio Ayala, CEO of Per Scholas. “With the support of Stand Together, Per Scholas will be able to continue its growth, and further serve the needs of communities around the country.”

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About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, we prepare motivated and curious adults who are unemployed or underemployed for successful careers as technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, Ma; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

About Stand Together
Stand Together is a social change organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by supporting the creative solutions of individuals and communities around the country. Founded in 2016, Stand Together strengthens communities by investing in social change-makers that can break barriers for individuals in poverty so that they can realize their full potential. To join the National Poverty Awareness Month conversation, follow @StandTgthr and #PovertyAwareness.