According to The Heritage Foundation, 15 million children in America live in poverty, increasing their risk for adverse outcomes and entry into the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. We are working to create a country in which these systems become as obsolete as possible, because all children are materially and ardently cared for, while being coached along a pathway toward sustained success. Eckerd Connects is dedicated to moving further upstream to build a dam of services that will stop the flood of families into the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Through the power of work, we strongly believe we will accomplish this with our programs featuring workforce development services that provide families with economic stability.
The Success Awards program helps youth and adults who have gone above the call of duty demonstrating positive change to get to the next stage in pursuing their dreams. Success Awards provide up to $5,000 for transitional, vocational, and educational pursuits for the at-risk and under-served population who demonstrate a commitment to education and career improvement. This program helps youth and adults who have successfully participated in an Eckerd Connects program to pay for transitional needs for success as they grow into adulthood. This might include a suit for a job interview, new shoes, a laptop for college, transportation assistance, housing assistance, or new job tools to help in pursuing education or employment.
Eckerd Connects has set a goal of providing $125,000 in Success Awards to fifty deserving young adults that they serve . The average Success Award is $2,500.
These young people are committed to education and employment, yet are still greatly at risk due to many hindrances in their lives. Through Eckerd Connects’ Success Awards solution, you can give a young person a chance to pursue their dream of success. Won’t you give generously to help them overcome the odds and live positive, productive lives? Your help is deeply appreciated.
Eckerd Connects expects to see the following outcomes for youth and adults receiving Success Awards: