Grants Awarded to Open Doors Academy and Youth Opportunities Unlimited will support career path preparation for young adults in Cleveland.
Cleveland, OH | April 27, 2021 – Deaconess Foundation recently awarded grants to two local organizations preparing young adults for in-demand careers: Open Doors Academy (ODA) will receive $100,000 in funds to support their career readiness programming and Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U) will receive a general operating support grant of $180,000 to provide summer internships, credentialling and job placement.
The two organizations will also work together to engage with employers and secure internships (work-based learning experiences) for youth.
Y.O.U. prepares teens and young adults 14-24 living in economically distressed areas to become economically self-sufficient contributors to building NEO’s educated, skilled and inclusive workforce.
“We aspire to advocate for system changes that end structural racism and other inequities perpetuating poverty,” said Craig Dorn, President and CEO of Y.O.U. “The generous grant from the Deaconess Foundation positions our organization to deliver on our mission and promise to the community. This funding which supports general operating allows Y.O.U. to be flexible as we help our clients navigate challenges to their success.”
ODA works to protect, inspire, nurture, and challenge youth to reach their full potential. ODA is a Greater Cleveland-based nonprofit organization committed to ending the cycle of poverty through educational support systems for adolescents and young adults.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Deaconess Foundation for their enduring commitment to our mission,” said Dorothy Moulthrop, CEO of ODA. “This generous investment in our work will support job shadowing, internships, and college preparation for over 100 high school scholars, and will allow us to provide services to our alumni as they pursue their college and career goals.”
Deaconess grants approximately $2 million a year to organizations working to improve the workforce development ecosystem, including those delivering training and resources to jobseekers or helping employers locate skilled workers for open job opportunities. These grants help adults and young adults prepare for in-demand jobs in high-growth industries including manufacturing, healthcare and IT.
Deaconess also announced the addition of two new Trustees to its board.
Andrea Lyons is the Director of Race, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the United Way of Cleveland, where she leads the organization’s commitment and actions to address structural racism and economic inequity. Andrea brings this expertise to Deaconess after years as a professional communicator and marketer, at her own firm as well as for national and regional companies and partners. A native of New Jersey, Andrea received her BA at Rutgers University and MBA at NYU. Andrea focuses her community service on the empowerment of families and communities. She also enjoys spending time with her family and enjoying green spaces.
Meltrice Sharp, CPA, is a Founder and Managing Partner at CLE Consulting Firm, an accounting, tax, payroll, and business consulting firm conveniently located in Downtown Cleveland. CLE continues to thrive and has been growing since the inception of the firm in 2017. Her experience as Managing Partner for CLE enables Meltrice to understand the employer’s perspective within the workforce system and places her in the perfect position to assist other businesses in the community striving to grow and scale. Meltrice has 20 years of experience in accounting, tax, and financial management. Her rich background can be attributed to her previous employment with EY (formerly Ernst & Young) and more than a decade with Forest City Enterprises. Meltrice earned her BA from Kent State and MBA from Baldwin Wallace University. Born and bred in Cleveland, Meltrice prides herself on giving back to the community and being a great wife, mother, and grandmother.
“These two women share, with our existing Trustees, a deep commitment to our mission of enabling people to build careers that sustain themselves and their families,” said Deaconess President and CEO Cathy Belk. “We know their professional expertise, together with this commitment, is exactly what we need to increase the impact of our work.”
The Deaconess Foundation’s Board Chair is Russell Lamb, Principal of Allegro Realty Advisors and Vice Chair is Carrie Clark, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Tucker Ellis LLP.
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About Deaconess Foundation
Established in 1997, Deaconess Foundation is a private foundation committed to helping people in need build careers that sustain them and their families. Deaconess makes grants to Cuyahoga County organizations contributing to the workforce development ecosystem. Through these partnerships, Deaconess hopes to build a community in which pathways to family-sustaining jobs and wages are visible and accessible to all. To learn more about Deaconess Foundation visit www.deaconessfdn.org.