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The Sun-Times Jobs For Youth/Chicago Bridge Program Launched

The Chicago Sun-Times Charity Trust awarded a $75,000 grant to Jobs For Youth/Chicago to assist with the development of the program, which will help Chicago youth attain a post-secondary education from community colleges, universities and technical schools located in Chicago. The grant funds will help pay for computers, career/education assessment software and a dedicated staff member.

Bridge programs meet an important need to build the academic, technical and workplace skills of low-income, low-skilled young adults. This new initiative will prepare JFY's young adults - those specifically who lack adequate basic skills to enter and succeed in education, training, leading to career-path employment - with an overarching goal of postsecondary education. The program will enable students to advance both to better jobs and to further education and training, and thus are designed to provide a broad foundation for career-long learning on the job and formal post-high school education and training.

To assist JFY with integrating the inaugural Bridge Program into their current Work Readiness/Life Skills Training Program is Kendall College. JFY expects to formalize collaborative partnerships with many career-oriented community colleges, universities and technical schools across Chicago. Kendall College is a four-year institution, and students in the Bridge Program are presented with the opportunity to earn bachelor's degrees in Business, Psychology, Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management and Education, as well as associate degrees and certificates in areas within culinary arts

Jobs For Youth/Chicago and Kendall College are hosting a College Day Open House at Jobs For Youth, 17 North State St., 6^th Floor, in Chicago from 9 a.m. - noon on Friday, March 12. Attendees will be able to talk with staff about admissions, career pathways and financial aid availability. The Kendall College Day is scheduled on Friday, March 18, from 9 a.m. - noon. This event will be held at Kendall College, 900 N. North Branch St., Chicago, and will include a campus tour, class visits and a formal reception for student and parents.

"The Chicago Sun-Times Charity Trust is delighted to partner with Jobs For Youth/Chicago and help more Chicago youth gain access to post-secondary education," said James D. McDonough, who is the Chairman of the Sun-Times Charity Trust Board of Trustees and the Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Sun-Times Media. "Just as we take pride in serving the Chicago region as a news company through the Chicago Sun-Times and our 58 suburban publications, we take seriously our responsibility to contribute to the good of Chicago youth."

"For the past 30 years, JFY has been strongly committed to helping young men and women from low-income families become a part of the economic mainstream, and, in the process, providing the Chicago area business community with motivated, job-ready workers. We have always encouraged our students to seek higher education beyond a high school or GED, but we simply haven't had the resources to help them achieve those goals," said Andrew Abrahams, President and Chief Executive Officer for JFY. "We are pleased to work with Kendall College, which is a strong academic partner, and look forward to engaging with other schools to grow and strengthen the Bridge Program."

Michelle Coussens, dean of the Kendall College School of Business said: "On behalf of the entire Kendall College team, we welcome the opportunity to assist students such as those from JFY in providing access and preparation to disadvantaged youth. Kendall's bridge curriculum supports the college mission of providing people with access to education that prepares employment-ready professionals."

About the Sun-Times Charity Trust

The Sun-Times Charity Trust is a separate, non-profit entity of Sun-Times Media, owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and more than 50 suburban newspaper titles. The Sun-Times Charity Trust, created in 1936, provides financial support to organizations that help youth to develop to their highest potential by targeting programs that address their needs, and empower them with skills necessary to evolve into literate and responsible adults.

About Jobs For Youth/Chicago, Inc.

JFY's mission is to help young men and women from low-income families become part of the economic mainstream; and, in the process, provide the business community with motivated, job-ready workers. JFY has provided education and training services to more than 17,000 young adults and has made more than 27,000 job placements with thousands of Chicago employers in a wide range of businesses. More information is available at www.jfychicago.org, including a short video about JFY programs and services.

About Kendall College

Kendall College, which celebrated its 75^th anniversary in 2009, offers undergraduate degrees in business, early childhood education, culinary arts, psychology and hospitality management. Current enrollment is approximately 2,400 students. The school occupies a stunning "Riverworks" campus near downtown Chicago. Kendall College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org, 1-312-263-0456. The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission has accredited the Culinary Arts Associate and Baking & Pastry Associate programs since 1988. Kendall College is a member of the Laureate International Universities network. For more information, visit www.kendall.edu.

Tammy Chase, Director of Corporate Communications, Sun-Times Media
(312) 321-3230 or tchase@suntimes.com
or
Kristin Gudenrath, Public Relations & Special Events Director, Jobs For Youth
(312) 499-4778 x136 or Kristin@jfychicago.org