Sulphur Springs Resource Center Graduates 11 Students in Certified Nursing Assistant Program

Released: May 9,2017

Tampa, FL – CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and United Way Suncoast will introduce 11 new Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) to the healthcare community on Friday, May 12th. This will be the second class to graduate from the United Way Suncoast Sulphur Springs Resource Center, allowing the participants to fulfill their dreams and begin a new career.
The CNA training, which was implemented to assist families in becoming financially stable and self sufficient, is funded by CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and United Way Suncoast. The program is seven weeks long and culminates in a graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of all of the students. To date, 18 women have successfully completed this course which was facilitated by Hillsborough Community College (HCC). CareerEdge, a workforce development non-profit, provides tuition and pays for the state license exam that is taken upon completion of the program. The United Way Suncoast Sulphur Springs Resource Center supports the CNA certification training, and provides services such as legal aid counseling, employability training, financial awareness and GED programs.
HCC has organized a job fair with local employers to help students build connections with healthcare organizations that are searching for CNAs. The high demand for nursing assistants in the Tampa area offers great promise with graduates earning approximately $10 – $15 per hour at hospitals, home health agencies, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
“When these students receive their CNA certification, they are earning more than just a title behind their names. They are building financial stability for their families, beginning a different chapter in their lives, starting a new career and moving themselves out of poverty,” stated Mireya Eavey, Executive Director of CareerEdge and Sarasota Area President for United Way Suncoast.
Tara Mulkey, a Sulphur Springs Resource Center CNA graduate, is a single mother of three who resides in the Sulphur Springs area. Tara had previously worked in the medical field but had to leave the profession to care for her children. However, she never gave up on one day returning to her career. Upon learning of the Resource Center’s CNA program, she knew it was her chance to start on her lifelong dream. Tara says, “It means everything to me to become a CNA because it has been my passion. The Sulphur Springs Resource Center CNA program has given me a second chance to have a career in the medical field. I am so thankful and happy.”
United Way Suncoast seeks opportunities that will impact lives and decrease poverty. By partnering with CareerEdge, both organizations are able to hone in on the communities and individuals that need help building a sustainable livelihood for their families.
“United Way Suncoast continuously seeks opportunities that will educate and empower individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to create lasting change for themselves, their families and their community,” says Xavier Russell, Director of Neighborhood Initiatives for United Way Suncoast. “We are especially happy to be able to work collaboratively with such wonderful partners as CareerEdge and Hillsborough Community College (HCC).”

About United Way Suncoast
United Way Suncoast staff, volunteers and trusted community partners connect people, create change, and impact lives in DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties by developing, enhancing and implementing services and programs to help create a stronger, more vibrant community. United Way Suncoast fights for the education and financial stability of every person in the community through educational programs that give children the skills to succeed and help adults achieve long-term financial stability, as well as provide support services to those who need it most. To find Suncoast-area volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteersuncoast.org. For more information, please call 941.366.2686 (Sarasota office) or 813.274.0933 (Tampa office), or visit www.unitedwaysuncoast.org.
About CareerEdge
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, Sarasota, and Charlotte 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.