Boston, MA Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation has presented a $90,000 multi-year grant to the YMCA of Greater Boston (the Y) to support the organization’s Teen Employment Program. This grant will provide meaningful work experiences for hundreds of local teens. The Y is the largest direct employer of teens during the summer through the city’s SuccessLink Youth Employment Program.
In addition to the grant from the foundation, Rockland Trust has stepped up as the Y teens’ official financial literacy partner, creating and delivering financial education to the Y’s teen employees and youth taking part in the Y’s summer camps.
“At the Y, teens are critical to delivering so many of our services and they enrich the Y community everyday. Rockland Trust’s partnership, along with the city’s leadership in youth employment, allows us to provide important compensation, and the developmental support and life skills that will be game changers for these young leaders’ future journey,” said David Shapiro, CEO YMCA of Greater Boston. “We appreciate Rockland Trust’s vision, leadership and efforts in ensuring they learn valuable lessons in navigating personal finances.”
At the end of August, Rockland Trust hosted a Credit for Life fair for 200 of the Y’s teen employees. At the event, Rockland Trust colleagues helped teenagers navigate important financial decisions in an immersive experience designed around real-life budgeting and money management skills. The knowledge gained from the experience helped participants envision their future goals and start to think about important financial considerations they will face along the way.
“This partnership directly aligns with our Foundation’s priorities to support financial literacy and workforce development in our communities,” said Andrea Borowiecki, vice president of charitable giving & community engagement at Rockland Trust and executive director of the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to partner with the Y, one of the area’s largest non-profits, to invest in the next generation. Our colleagues look forward to continuing to build meaningful relationships with the Y’s teen employees to help them make the most of their summer employment and work toward a bright and successful financial future.”
It is estimated this summer that one out of every three teens in Boston will benefit from the Y. Many of the teen employees work at the Y’s summer camps helping more than 2,000 children each summer. Other employment opportunities include working at the Y’s food warehouse in East Boston, the welcome centers at any of the locations, lifeguarding, or assisting in the fundraising or human resources departments.
