Successful Internship Program to Expand
Released: March 1, 2017
Sarasota FL.: Through the generous support of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, local workforce development non-profit CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, will be expanding its innovative Internship Reimbursement Program for 2017. First piloted two years ago, the internship program incentivizes employers in high-demand industries to hire college interns in order for them to gain valuable work experience.
“These experiential opportunities allow students to build soft skills like communication, teamwork and professionalism, as well as practice the hard skills they are learning in the classroom for their technical certification or college degree programs,” explains Executive Director Mireya Eavey.
Employers receive up to $1,500 if they hire an intern at a minimum of $10/hour. The program also exposes students to the workforce; while helping employers to develop talent in the growing sectors of Healthcare, Manufacturing, IT, Transportation, Financial Services and Construction Trades. CareerEdge also partners with local colleges to encourage them to embed internships in more of their programs.
A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 95% of employers report experience is a key factor in hiring decisions, with internships becoming an essential component of a resume. Students with internships are more likely to land a job, and on average are paid more. However, even with both the value and impact clear, many organizations are hesitant to hire an intern. Employers need both education and an incentive to develop or expand an internship program.
Last year, CareerEdge funded approximately 90 students from 40 different organizations from Tampa Bay to Sarasota. 98% of students reported that the internship prepared them for the workforce, and 100% of the employers believe the internship program added value to their organization.
One participating employer said that, “This program gave us the opportunity to try out the intern concept and it proved very successful.”
This year, in addition to the college program, CareerEdge will pilot a high school internship initiative called Career Quest for 25 low-income rising high school juniors in Sarasota County. Students receive a paid summer internship with the potential to earn $1,000, plus career awareness and financial planning training.
“The Barancik Foundation is pleased to support this impactful program that connects classroom education to real world experiences for the youth and young adults. It’s really a win-win for the region,” says President |CEO Teri A Hansen, “given that the program helps to close skills gaps and provides students with a stepping stone to launch their careers.”
To learn more about the internship program, go to careeredgefunders.org.
Employers interested in participating in the high school program should contact Program Director Deborah Chapman at 941-328-6984.
About CareerEdge Funders Collaborative
CareerEdge is an innovative partnership of business, government, and philanthropic organizations that leverages public and private dollars to provide opportunities for better jobs and wages in Manatee and Sarasota counties. The first regional collaborative of workforce investors in the southeastern United States to be designated as a site of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, CareerEdge was created with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Bank of America, Bradenton 14th Street Community Redevelopment Agency, Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, and Manatee Community Action Agency. It is also supported by contributions from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, Microsoft, Sarasota County Government, Jane’s Trust, JP Morgan Chase, Scheidel Foundation and United Way Suncoast . For more information about CareerEdge and its partners, please visit www.careeredgefunders.org or call 941.328.6985
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. The Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical (research/resources). For further information, please contact Kelly Romanoff at KRomanoff@BarancikFoundation.org.
