Youth Mentorship to Launch in Whistler
July 11, 2011
Whistler—Sea to Sky Community Services is pleased to announce the award of a $30,000 grant from the Vancouver Foundation in support of a new Mentorship Employment Program in Whistler for youth with developmental disabilities.
July 11, 2011—Whistler—Sea to Sky Community Services is pleased to announce the award of a $30,000 grant from the Vancouver Foundation in support of a new Mentorship Employment Program in Whistler for youth with developmental disabilities.
“We are thrilled to establish this partnership with the Vancouver Foundation’s Disability Supports for Employment Fund in support of youth in the Whistler area,” says SSCS Executive Director Lois Wynne. “Our goal is to break down barriers for youth to engage meaningfully in their communities and in the workplace – celebrating abilities instead of disabilities can inspire all of us.”
The program will provide opportunities for both young adults with developmental disabilities and the local business communities to broaden their expectations of how persons with disabilities can meaningfully contribute in the work place. The program will help participants discover and develop their interests and skills in the pursuit of employment opportunities, and will facilitate increased accessibility and inclusion in Sea to Sky communities and labour markets.
“We are looking forward to working with local business in Whistler, our facility partner Whistler Adaptive Sports and the community at large to make this program a success. With the generous support of the Vancouver Foundation we will begin planning a launch for the program in September 2011,” says Community Living Services Director Liz Wood.
“This is about getting a job,” says Faye Wightman, president and CEO of Vancouver Foundation. “A job is so much more than just a paycheque. It’s an important source of self-esteem, of satisfaction (in a job well done), of ongoing education, of growth, of interaction with other people, and the community at-large. It’s also a measure of achievement.Young people with developmental disabilities face huge barriers to employment. Anything we can do to help increase their chances of getting a job is worthwhile. That’s why we’re proud to support Sea to Sky Community Services, and their Mentorship Employment Program.”
For more information on the Youth Mentorship Employment Program, contact Community Living Services Manager Donna Bent at donna.bent@sscs.ca or phone 604.892.5796. For more information on Sea to Sky Community Services programs, visit www.sscs.ca
Sea to Sky Community Services Society is a registered charity founded in 1978. We believe all individuals have the right to meaningful work, affordable housing and support in times of crisis and to meet every day challenges. www.sscs.ca.
Vancouver Foundation helps build more vibrant and resilient communities in BC. We do this by harnessing the gifts of energy, ideas, time, and money of caring citizens to make meaningful and lasting impacts. We are Canada’s largest community foundation and we’ve been investing in communities since 1943.