$25K Walmart Foundation Grant awarded to the Urban League of the Upstate

The Urban League of the Upstate has received a $25,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving program in support of its Workforce Continuum of Care: Cast Preparation/Broadband Fiber Optic Training Program. This is a multi-tiered program designed to develop the career skills of Upstate residents before they enter the workforce.

This program offers national certifications based on the in-demand occupations established by the local workforce development board. These national certifications help pave the way for new employment opportunities for the underserved and create an entry into the global economy. The vision is to provide training that leads to career pathways, not just a job. These trainings will equip Upstate consumers with the skills needed to obtain entry-level positions.

Photo: Kurt Herkert, Walmart Market Manager and Urban League Board Member and Jil Littlejohn, President & CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate

“Thanks to generous corporate donors like the Walmart Foundation, we are making significant strides in helping to eliminate barriers to employment for entry-level job seekers,” said Jil Littlejohn, President & CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate. “The majority of job openings in the future will require some sort of post-secondary credential, leaving behind many hourly workers, and it is our vision to help bridge this gap in an effort to create a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to live, learn and work.”

“The Walmart Foundation is committed to assisting organizations like the Urban League that help people learn the skills they need to succeed in the workplace,” said Brooke Mueller, Director of Public Affairs for Walmart. “We are proud to support the Urban League’s critical work, strengthening communities and creating career pathways in the Upstate.”

In 2015, community giving in South Carolina from Walmart stores, clubs and the Walmart Foundation totaled $30 million.

About the Urban League of the Upstate

Serving over 3,000 people annually, the Urban League of the Upstate is the oldest and largest community-based organization of its kind in the nation. Dedicated to the principal of economic empowerment for individuals by providing the tools they need to achieve success, the Urban League is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all citizens in housing, education, employment and economic development without regard to race or socioeconomic status. The mission of the organization is to promote education, equip economically, and transform generations while creating a vision of thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to live, learn, and work.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.