Year Up Receives $721,500 from the Walmart Foundation to Expand Atlanta Site and Launch New Chicago Office

BOSTON, April 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Year Up received $721,500 from the Walmart Foundation to help grow its site in Atlanta, Ga., and launch its new office in Chicago, Ill. Lauded by President Barack Obama for its innovative approach, Year Up is a national organization that provides training to low-income young adults and helps them secure internships with top companies.

The Walmart Foundation grant will make it possible for Year Up not only to reach more candidates in the Atlanta and Chicago regions, but also change workplace hiring practices and influence government support of workforce development.  

Year Up's intensive, one-year program enables graduates to move into full-time employment and higher education. To date, 85 percent of graduates have been placed into positions within four months of graduation, earning an average of $35,000 per year.

"The Walmart Foundation's generous contribution is a strong endorsement of our proven, scalable model, and provides our country with trained talent that will help us compete more fiercely," said Sandy Stark, Year Up's director of development and external affairs.  

In addition to Atlanta, Year Up has offices in Boston, New York, Providence, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. Chicago will be the seventh Year Up site.

"The Walmart Foundation is proud to support programs like Year Up that strengthen communities and help individuals live better," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation.

About Year Up, Inc.

Year Up's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills and experience that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Year Up achieves this mission through a high support, high expectation model that places these young adults on a viable path to economic self-sufficiency. To learn more, visit www.yearup.org.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

SOURCE Year Up, Inc.