Genesys Works & TechGirlz Selected as Lead Charities for CompTIA's & Creating IT Futures Foundation's 2016 Donations

At the check presentation, Rafael Alvarez, founder & CEO, Genesys Works asked ChannelCon attendees, "Who gave you your first big break? How are you paying it forward and giving someone their first big break? Genesys Works is a provider of first big breaks. This donation will help train 20 students on how to be professionals and connects them with employers for year-long internships."

Genesys Works changes the life trajectory of underprivileged high school students by enabling them to work in meaningful internships, at major corporations, during their senior year in high school. After an eight-week intensive training program, students work at one of Genesys Works' clients where they discover that they can indeed succeed as professionals in the corporate world. 

TechGirlz is dedicated to reducing the gender gap in technology occupations. They develop fun and educational hands-on workshops, called TechShopz, and an annual Entrepreneur Summer Camp, to get middle-school age girls interested in different kinds of technology and demonstrate the varied options of careers available. TechGirlz enables them to interact with professionals who have carved out successful careers in technology fields, and empower them to be future technology leaders.

In accepting the CompTIA donation, Tracey Welson-Rossman, chief marketing officer, Chariot Solutions, and founder, TechGirlz, commented, "This donation will help girls to dream bigger and think bigger. It will allow 10,000 more girls to go to at least one TechShopz and encourage older girls to become TechShopz instructors. You're helping these girls to reach their potential."

Contributions made by CompTIA's member communities and councils are part of an annual effort at CompTIA and Creating IT Futures to support local communities and improve education and career options for individuals in need. Creating IT Futures designates $10,000 for each of CompTIA's 16 communities and councils to give to their own chosen charities each year.

"CompTIA helps its members better their local regions through donations, education, mentoring and technology," said Cristina Greysman, senior director, partner experience, Sungard Availability Services, and a representative of CompTIA's Community Executive Board. "We're excited by the work these charities are doing, especially as they help more people get into tech careers."

So far this year the following charities, besides Genesys Works and TechGirlz, have been selected by CompTIA's member communities and councils for donations, with three more CompTIA groups still deciding on their choices:

• Because I Said I Would, a social movement and nonprofit that encourages and supports making and keeping promises as a means to end suffering, establish peace and build happiness,
• Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust, a UK charity which provides a community facility in the heart of Covent Garden & Holborn to serve the needs of economically-disadvantaged local residents, local communities and the wider public.
• Federation of Galaxy Explorers which inspires youth in the fields of science and engineering by providing afterschool "mission team" meetings where students participate in hands-on lessons that support the National Science Education Standards.
• Folds of Honor which provides educational support to spouses and children of America's fallen and wounded soldiers,
• Foster Care to Success which works with college bound foster youth, helping them navigate the tricky waters of academia, understand the importance of personal fiscal responsibility, determine achievable career goals, and create networks of friendship and support.
• Girl Develop It which offers affordable and judgment-free opportunities for economically-disadvantaged women interested in learning web and software development.
• Teen Tech, a UK charity which helps teenagers see the wide range of career possibilities in science, engineering and technology.
• Women in Aerospace which increases the leadership capabilities and visibility of women in the aerospace community.

"Since 2013, while building our own philanthropic programs to put future workers into IT careers, we've supported more than 50 charities chosen by CompTIA member communities and councils with $530,000 in donations with another $30,000 still to be assigned this year," said Charles Eaton, CEO, Creating IT Futures Foundation.

More information about CompTIA's member communities and councils and their activities can be found at https://www.comptia.org/communities.

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SOURCE Creating IT Futures Foundation

Related Links

http://www.creatingitfutures.org