SYI Receives Grant From Veit Youth Charitable Trust

The Veit Youth Charitable Trust has presented the Genesee Chamber Foundation with a $5,000 grant to support the Summer Youth Initiative at the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Veit Trust funds programs that provide character-building services to children up to the age of 18 living in Flint and Genesee County. This grant will allow eligible SYI teens to receive workplace experience through employment at nonprofit and for-profit businesses in the community this summer.

"SYI is a great program that thrives because of the support of our funders," said Rhetta Hunyady, group vice president of operations and the Employer Education and Training Connection. "The support of the Veit Youth Charitable Trust is greatly appreciated as it helps teens to gain a variety of work experience, and emphasizes to teens the significant role they personally play in the community."

SYI participating youths have successfully completed the TeenQuest pre-employment training program, which qualifies them to interview for positions with area nonprofit and for-profit organizations. This summer approximately 500 youths will be hired through the program.

The Veit grant will support the wages for area teens employed this summer. Those who are employed at nonprofit organizations have their wages paid in full. For the third consecutive year, the Regional Chamber has expanded the employment opportunity to for-profit organizations. Those businesses that hire SYI students will have the student's wages matched at 50 percent through the first 90 days of employment.

(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.