(FLINT, Mich. – Oct. 12, 2016) – The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce today announced the receipt of $98,500 from several organizations in support of quality afterschool programming and pre-employment training to Genesee County youth and teens.
The funding will benefit four programs:
- YouthQuest, comprehensive afterschool program that provides educational, enrichment and physical fitness opportunities for more than 2,000 students in grades K-12 each year
- TeenQuest, a pre-employment and leadership training program for high school students, ages 14-19, in Genesee County
- Summer Youth Initiative (SYI), which connects TeenQuest graduates with summer job opportunities in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors
- Manufacturing Day, an initiative that introduces high school students to a variety of career opportunities via tours of local manufacturing facilities
“We are very grateful for the financial support of these organizations,” said Rhetta Hunyady, the Chamber’s Vice President of Education & Training. “With their help, we can continue to provide quality afterschool programming through YouthQuest, leadership training through TeenQuest, real-world job experiences through Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) and exposure to manufacturing careers through Manufacturing Day.”
Recent grantors of these programs include:
- Hagerman Foundation, $50,000 (TeenQuest/SYI and YouthQuest)
- Herman Miller Cares, $15,000 (YouthQuest)
- Whiting Foundation, $10,000 (YouthQuest)
- United Way of Genesee County, $7,500 (TeenQuest/SYI)
- Child Welfare Society, $5,000 (TeenQuest/SYI)
- Deluxe Dental, $5,000 (YouthQuest)
- I-69 Thumb Region, $5,000 (Manufacturing Day)
- Burroughs Memorial Trust, $1,000 (TeenQuest/SYI)
To learn more about TeenQuest, SYI and YouthQuest, all administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, visit www.flintandgenesee.org/learn.
For more information about National Manufacturing Day, held every October, visit www.mfgday.com.
About YouthQuest
YouthQuest is a high-quality, research-based afterschool program offering educational and enrichment activities that engage young minds. Available at 15 sites in the city of Flint and Genesee County, YouthQuest serves nearly 2,000 students in grades K-12 each year. The program is administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. For more information, visit www.yquest.org.
About the Summer Youth Initiative and TeenQuest
The Summer Youth Initiative is a program that helps Flint-area teens find paid summer jobs. It’s open to students who’ve completed the TeenQuest afterschool program, which provides pre-employment and leadership training to students ages 14 to 19 to help them succeed in college and the 21st century workplace. Both programs are administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. To apply or learn more, visit www.flintandgenesee.org/teenquest.