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Greenville Business Magazine

Wells Fargo Makes Donation To United Ministries

May 23, 2018 03:22PM ● By Kathleen Maris

Wells Fargo granted $6,000 to United Ministries for the purpose of community development, specifically to facilitate financial literacy and empowerment and to provide job training and workforce development.

South Carolina has excelled in improving its job market through the creation of new jobs, but the skills gap in the workforce continues to concern employers. United Ministries addresses this issue head-on with a unique program that does much more than help people find jobs. The program prepares individuals with the skills and training needed to qualify for jobs that pay a living wage, offers financial literacy training, and provides opportunities for full scholarships to complete job certifications that are in high demand. 

The ultimate goal of United Ministries Employment Readiness Program is financial stability.  Employment counselors work one-on-one with participants for up to a year after a job is secured, guiding them to overcome old fears and new challenges, surmounting barriers, and conquering unforeseen circumstances.

Wells Fargo makes contributions in areas they believe are important to the future of the nation’s vitality and success. Their first priority is to support programs and organizations whose chief purpose is to benefit low to moderate income individuals and families.

95 percent of the participants in United Ministries Employment Readiness Program are low to moderate income residents of Greenville County who are unemployed or underemployed. They are finding it hard, if not impossible, to secure work that provides a livable wage to support themselves and their families.

Expected benchmarks of the program this year are: 220 individuals will successfully complete the four-day employability skills class; 200 individuals will find new employment or secure better employment; 25 individuals will successfully complete a job certification program; 35 individuals will enroll in matched savings, keeping up with the required investment schedule; 5 families will receive targeted financial assistance through a financial stabilization plan; and 100 individuals will work one-on-one with a financial services coordinator for financial education and counsel.

United Ministries offers a broad array of programming in one location, where a single team of professionals provides multi-focused care personalized to each family’s circumstances. Purposefully integrating services maximizes the collective impact of the agency’s work in the areas of education and employment, crisis assistance, and homeless services.